You might benefit from wearing soft earplugs -- I wear them whenever my husband and I go to a movie, or at least I used to when movie theaters were still allowed. I have super-sensitive hearing and high frequencies are the worst. If I am exposed to a high sound for too long, I become irritated to the point of rage.

Yes, the term classical music is silly. It's used to refer to every form of orchestral music outside of soundtracks. I like Bach's restraint and mathmaticism/counterpoint. Bach's melodies weren't the main attraction of his music and that's why I think his music is so brilliant. By the time we get to Mozart, melody has to carry more weight as it's far more homophonic. Mozart's melodies are annoying. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Symphony No. 40, one of his few minor themes... not that great. I agree with you though, the Requiem was good stuff. Maybe if Mozart had the opportunity to age beyond his mid-thirties, his material would have further evolved towards the gravity of the Requiem.

I'm a fan of Saint-Saens. He was vastly underrated. So was Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev.

I wish you the best on your musical adventures! Sounds exciting.