Some interesting music I've recently discovered

Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto - AWESOME! It's so witty, it's so Prokofiev. The coda of the last movement is like a never ending ecstasy. The relentless strings against the piano - very exciting!

Schubert's D. 958 (Piano Sonata #19), D. 959 (Piano Sonata #20), and D. 944 (Symphony No. 9). Schubert is moving up fast in my playlist. He wrote music with such purity and brilliance, I cannot fail to stand in awe when listening to his music. The slow movements of both D. 958 and D. 959 can bring me down anytime, while the slow movement of D. 944 stuck in my head for hours when I first time listened to it. I am never and will never be tired when listening to his masterpieces. They're just timeless.

Berlioz's Harold in Italy - after several listening, I begin to like this piece very much. It's like Symphony Fantastique, but just a tad less fantastic. It's still great anyway.

Mahler's 9th symphony - a tough one to crack, just like the rest of Mahler. But as usual, the reward of being persistent listening to it is very high! I can't say I understand the symphony perfectly - who ever does? - but if you're not carried away in the climax of the finale where basically it seems like Mahler himself is finally saying his last goodbye to the world in a very neurotic fashion, something is seriously wrong with you.

Bach's Goldberg Variations - what a piece! I bought Pinnock's recording of it on the harpsichord. Wonderful recording and playing. I've also listened to Gould's 81 recording in Youtube. Vastly different interpretation and sound (piano vs. harpsichord), but they're both very enjoyable. The minor key variations are something special, the canons are amazing. And what an effect that Aria has when it is played again in the end! It's like telling the listener, you have arrived at the end of the journey, sit back and relax, reminisce about the journeys you just took while not forgetting where you start your journey from. Glorious piece!