Well, you could look at classical music as a series of compositions written by composers - most of which are no longer with us. This is the way that many are initially exposed to it. However, remember that all those great works were once performed for the first time. Also remember that the best works have several performances that are considered to be ageless. Finally, with youtube, you can search for some of those yourself.
To me, the most sublime and awe inspiring composition -ever- is Beethoven's fifth piano concerto. I can listen to this over and over and over again (and when CDs first came out in college, this is what me and my roommate did with the repeat feature).
Just go to youtube, and type: "beethoven emperor"
You will be impressed with the wondrous performances. I wish there was a youtube of
Serkin/Bernstein for this piece (well, there is, but not a performance, just a recording). That is what I consider to be the best modern recording. But watching Glenn Gould hammering away (maybe a little too heavy handed) really let's you see that genius is not just in the composition, it is also in the performance.
A while ago I was searching for a youtube upload of anyone performing Schubert's Trout quintet. I came across the wonderful documentary of a brilliant performance in the 1970s with Jacqueline Du Pre. (Just search "trout du pre")
But you have to check out this part. In the beginning, Jacqueline Du Pre and Itzhak Perlman switch instruments (and I think both are Strads). But watch forward, at the 2:30 mark, just as Perlman is playing a beautiful part of a theme/variation, Du Pre gives this absolutely magnificent smile. That's when you realize what classical music is all about. Basically, these are rock stars (both are 24 years old in this performance), cranking out a piece that is about 150 years old. And, in that one smile, your heart melts. I don't think anything beyond music is going on between Perlman and Du Pre (because I think her husband is playing piano here).
I think I have watched that one clip 20 times:
--gh