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Whew... Such a question could keep me around for the rest of the day... There are so many, many melodies I can count among my all-time favorites, that listing them all could be a long, time-consuming task. Nevertheless, I could give a few answers (I promise to post the links as I'm able to search them all Links added!). Short answer: almost anything by Tchaikovsky. Slightly longer answer, in no particular order: 1) The first few measures of Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony, Op. 27, 3rd movement. 2) The soaring love theme from Tchaikovsky's The Tempest, Op. 18 (this section starting at 16:27) 3) The horn solo from Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony, Op. 64, 2nd movement. (Yeah, call it overplayed, but I'm just answering a question). Starts at 1:07. 4) The main themes from Mahler's 4th Symphony, 1st movement. 5) The opening theme from Wagner's Rienzi Overture (starts at 1:32). 6) Don Jose's Aria, from Bizet's Carmen, Act II. 7) Tchaikovsky's Rose Adagio, from The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, Act I (starting at 1:13). 8) John Williams's Flying Theme, from the score for ET. 9) The second theme from Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suite N° 3, Op. 55, 1st movement (starting at 2:32). 10) The full 2nd movement from Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata, Op. 13. 11) Haendel's For Unto Us a Child Is Born chorus, from Messiah, Part I. 12) Rachmaninov's Vocalise. 13) Air on the G string, from Bach's Orchestral Suite N° 3. (Again, call it overplayed or whatever)... 14) Puccini's famous aria Nessun Dorma, from Turandot. (Likewise). 15) Hymn and Chorus from Tchaikovsky's The Maid of Orleans, Act I (starts at 11:25). 16) The closing melody from Tchaikovsky's Letter Scene, from Eugene Onegin, Act I. 17) The second theme from Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony, Op. 58, 2nd movement (starts at 22:58). 18) The main theme from Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, Op. 64, 1st movement. To be continued...

It's difficult for me to just choose one out of all of the melodies that I love, but this one may be my favorite and is certainly at the top of the list. It's the one from around the middle of the first movement in Tchaikovsky's 6th. Basically the entire part from 5:10 to 11:00 is what I'm referring to. http://youtu.be/yDqCIcsUtPI?t=5m10s

I echo Austenite's sentiments there, and the Brahms Violin Sonata that pateceramics mentioned is also favorite. Since we're making lists, I'll add these to my tally as well. Not your typical classical answers to the 'favorite melody' question but these are beloved to me. The Grey Havens theme from Return of the King: http://youtu.be/iAz5QfH1uxg?t=5m47s Korra's theme from LoK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pcxrdP3ums

Beethoven - Symphony no. 7, second movement. Simple yet profound. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J12zprD7V1k

Lascia Ch'io Pianga, which is Italian for Let Me Weep, Handel's most beautiful aria, and he's written many beautiful arias, more than most! The tempo is a dream and the strings without vibrato are almost unbearable. And then there's the voice ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2rUEAyqpEM

Off the top of my head: Carla Bley, Utviklingssang: http://youtu.be/klD0eu24JkU Kenny Wheeler, Opening to Music For Large & Small Ensembles: http://youtu.be/EcECrHxbhDw Kenny Wheeler, Smatter: http://youtu.be/myKkvyOxYXA Tom Waits, Johnsburg, Illinois: http://youtu.be/UEI-UCU-BM0 Ornette Coleman, Lonely Woman: http://youtu.be/DNbD1JIH344 John Coltrane, Love Supreme pt. 2 Resolution: http://youtu.be/O6pSffe4k60 Charles Mingus, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: http://youtu.be/6sfe_8RAaJ0

I can't pick just one! Come on! http://youtu.be/ZRuYQ9KRJms And I love the irony that this is such an exquisitely gorgeous melody, sung by a ditzy little character with no depth whatsoever.

Man, you drove me crazy trying to find out which one is my favorite... (*eternal crisis*) BUT, I believe that Samuel Barber's violin concerto's first theme would be my best guess :P In fact, many things in this concerto are perfect for me, but the first theme's melody even more perfect. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWnPa__zJvg The harmony and the use of the orchestra also make the difference here.