The one hundred and third classical recording: #939 Elliott Carter - Concerto for Orchestra
It's easy to dismiss this piece as a mess, a cacophony of sounds that assaults you - and to be fair, we've had some modern pieces that feel like that. That's not the case for this concerto though. While there is a lot going on at once here, with some sounds that can seem to bite each other, there is a structure in here that means that while the work doesn't always harmonize, it all leads to a complete piece that works together, bringing a clear intention to the piece. The moments when they do come together and align are even more brilliant for that reason, as the sound becomes that much more powerful following the build up. It's an intense piece to listen to, consuming your attention more than other pieces, but it's worth finding the beauty in there.