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Try Holst's Planet Suite - you'll recognise a lot of it because it's been used for hymns, film scores etc. Also look for some Bach guitar music - some pieces were written to be played on 48 string guitar.
Tchaikovsky's music is amazing for it's light and shade. Beethoven can be heavy going but Piano Concerto No1 is a must. Ravel is pretty much easy listening but Daphnis and Cloe is a wonderful choral piece that almost sounds like it could be a Mike Oldfield composition. (I mean that as a compliment)
The ultimate in terms of the range that you are looking must be Mozart with the added advantage that you will have heard so much of his work without ever realising it.
Generally anything that is classed as "popular classics" will be accessible but if you're not sure where to begin there are tons of compliation disks with well known and easily digested pieces.
Do you have any classical music radio stations in your part of the World? If not then there is always internet radio. It's a good way to "window shop" before spending.
When you do buy a CD you should spend a bit extra to get a decent recording such as those from Deutsche Grammophon. They are beautiful recordings of the Worlds greatest orchestras under the great conductors and give the finest quality in every respect. After you've heard these, everything else sounds like a ropey cover band. If you can find a proper music store you'll find that the staff will be more than happy to help in guiding you or making suggestions.
If you want a really easy entry into orchestral music - which is actually what most people mean when they say "classical" then you could even look to buying a couple of good film score CDs by the likes of John Williams or Maurice Jarre (Jean-Michel's father).
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