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[*Sights*]

Could Samuel Barber's Adaggio for Strings qualify as dark? Or is is just kitsch now? Easily one of the most heard classical pieces, specially in soundtracks, but it's hard not to like it.

[RyanT]

Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is a staple.  Also check out Alban Berg's Wozzeck, Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, Stravinsky's Les Noces, Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima, and Ligeti's Atmospheres.

I'm trying to remember some of the pieces I heard on a concert this past fall, but I can't recall any of the titles or composers (aside from John Adams and Keiko Abe, but that's probably not what you're looking for...)  Most contemporary music for wind symphony will probably fulfill your craving, though.  I can't remember that much off the top of my head because I usually like listening to the eerie or depressing stuff.  I wonder why that is...

[pilsner]

Any advice on dark, heavy classical and opera to listen to? I don't have too many examples, 'cause I hear bits and pieces and never catch the names. Maybe like O Fortuna or Molto Vivace from Beethoven's 9th. I don't have the knowledge necessary to understand and fully appreciate the music, but damnit do I love listening to dark, heavy classical music when I'm in bad or stormy moods.

I can tell you that what got me into opera in the first place was the Queen of the Night's second aria in the Magic Flute.  Frankly I think the way to start with opera is with the comedies, since even the light fluffy stuff like Puccini's Gianni Schichhi, or Mozart's Marriage of Figaro has its dark, moody moments.  But if you still want heavy, there is an embarrassment of riches to choose from, from Wagner's Ring Cycle (yeah the 12 hour one with the Ride of the Valkyries) to Verdi's Aida, to Puccini's Tosca, and ever onward.

If you're looking for something that's really approachable, La Boheme and Manon Lescault by Puccini, and Carmen by Bizet have reputations for being really approachable (well-deserved I think).  Also keep in mind that the line between Broadway and opera is vague and Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is heralded in a book I'm reading now as one of the 100 top operas.  Nothing in the word "opera" says "foreign language singing with a ridiculous libretto".  Unfortunately, the best music in opera is seldom accompanied by a very intelligent libretto (case in point: Beethoven's Fidelio -- one of the few operas I've encountered that actually becomes less enjoyable when you find out what's being said).

[Borondir]

As far as dark heavy classical goes, I second Mahler and Shostakovitch symphonies. Also check out Mahler's Kindertotenlieder (Songs of the Death of Children). Bryn Terfel has a good recording on which they are paired a little incongruously with arias from the Mozart-Daponte comedies mentioned earlier. Another great Mahler symphonic songcycle is Das Lied von der Erde.

There's some wonderful choral music, especially requiems, that is very dark.  Some have been mentioned, but here are some of my favorites: Johannes Brahms' Deutsches Requiem, Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, Mozart's Requiem in D Minor, Guiseppe Verdi's Messa de Requiem.

Penderecki-Don't just get Threnody, it's good, but he has some wonderful dark and somber sacred choral music like the chilling St. Luke Passion and the much more recent, and more accessible Credo.

Speaking of passions, get both of Bach's passions,St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion, they are about as dark as Baroque music gets. For earlier German baroque, check out Heinrich Schutz. eMusic has a great recording of Muzikalische Exequien (Deutsche Begrabnis Missa, German Funeral Mass), written for his employer's funeral. It's performed by the Sixteen, one of the best early music vocal groups.

On opera, Don Giovanni has its comic moments but gets really dark and foreboding, especially at the end. There's so much great dark and heavy opera its hard to suggest just a few, but in addition to one's already suggested, try Puccini's Turandot, left unfinished at his death.  There's a long tradition of operas about the devil, like the several based off of Goethe's Faust. eMusic has a great cd from the legendary American bass Sam Ramey, called a Date with the Devil.

Khar, have you ever listened to Mussorgsky's masterpiece opera, Boris Godunov? As an opera overall it would probably bore you, but there are some parts that would probably stick out as entertaining if you love St. John's Night on Bald Mountain.

Wow...ridiculously long post...not a good idea to get me started on European art music ("classical")

[music fop]

Speaking of passions, get both of Bach's passions,St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion, they are about as dark as Baroque music gets. For earlier German baroque, check out Heinrich Schutz. eMusic has a great recording of Muzikalische Exequien (Deutsche Begrabnis Missa, German Funeral Mass), written for his employer's funeral. It's performed by the Sixteen, one of the best early music vocal groups.

In addition to your Bach recommendation, if I may be so bold, I would add his Toccata and Fugue in d dorian (ie not the famous overplayed one) it's fairly dark and really freakin' awesome.

Also, at the mention of Mugorsky, someone has to bring up "Pictures at an Exhibition" and I think that "Baba Yaga's Hut", from said suite, would fit nicely to your criteria.  (If you can excuse a slightly overplayed suite....)