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lol, it's funny how most people mention the "cheese" of classical music like Pachelbel's Canon.
Classical music is very broad, ranging different styles that have evolved during the last 5 to 6 centuries and the origins go back even more. I personally like the more modern and contemporary stuff right now, especially electronic classical music  John Cage, Luciano Berio, Stockhousen, and many more.
I also really like minimalism because it's the classical genre that is the closest and most influential to trance and electronic dance music in general. Composers like John Adams and Phillip Glass, they've done some crazy stuff.
As for the all time classics there is so much I could talk about but I'll stick to the basics. If you get one of those compilations that include many composers, I should warn you that you're not getting the best quality and that's not really the way one is supposed to listen to classical. It's like one of the cheesy TOTAL TRANCE EUPHORIA or MoS CD or something like that  . It's better to get a CD with a recognized artist performing. Like the violinist Itzhak Perlman, the cellist Yo Yo Ma or the conductor Herbert Von Karajan. Those are just examples of quality names. Go for a CD that includes a whole symphony or two, not just "excerpts" or a couple of movements, you need to listen to the whole work of art to truly appreciate it.
There are different type of pieces you can get: solo, symphonic ( symphonies, overtures, ballets), chamber music (a small group of instruments), concertos (soloist with orchestra), operas, choir shit etc.
Take a composer like romantic Johannes Brahms: he has 4 great symphonies, a couple of string quartets, piano quartets,a piano quintet, a clarinet quintet, a violin concerto, two piano concertos, a violin & cello concerto (the BEST!), a Requiem with a choir and a bunch of other genius stuff. This is the most sophisticated of the romantics, for something that is cheesier and easier to swallow go to Tchaikovsky.
Tchaikovsky is really simple to understand for the untrained ear because he's so melodramatic. You've probably heard his Nutcracker and Swan Lake ballets. Add to that 6 great symphonies, the piano concerto, the violin concerto and you'll find great stuff.
Rachmaninoff is a late romantic who stuck to the old formula for a long time but nevertheless did some great stuff. His 4 piano concertos (with #3 being one of the craziest piano pieces ever), look no further, especially if you can find the Ashkenasky or Martha Argerich recordings.
I could go on but i have to go, whatever.
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Heaven's Song would be one of the most saddest songs I've heard. 
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