You might try Le sacre du primtemps by Stravinsky. Or the planets from Holst or as an alternative : Also Sprach Zarathustra from Strauss.
i was going to mention 'Le sacre' (The Rite of Spring) too. it's a longish piece with a lot of variety but there are some seriously rocking moments! give it time if it rubs you the wrong way at first. it's one of my early favourites. if you're looking for Also Sprach make sure you look up RICHARD Strauss not Johann Strauss! (that's also a long piece with a lot of variety; the very beginning has the big finale! (used in '2001: A Space Odyssey').
more rocking classical music:
Short works
Dukas:
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice (a bit lighter; used in Walt Disney's 'Fantasia')
Ravel:
- Alborada del gracioso
- Rapsodie espagnol
R. Strauss:
- Don Juan
- Till Eulenspiegel
Long works
Bartok:
- The Miraculous Mandarin
Bernstein:
- Symphonic Dances from 'West Side Story'
Mahler:
- Symphonies: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9. (all a bit heavy for many listeners).
Orff:
- Carmina Burana
Prokofiev:
- Romeo and Juliet (Suites)
Rimsky-Korsakov:
- Capriccio espagnol
- Scheherezade
Shostakovich:
- Symphonies: 5, 10, 11. (10 and 11 are a bit heavy for many listeners).
Stravinsky:
- The Firebird (start with the suite).
ROCK
- the only rock band i still follow is Rush. i'm always curious to hear what they'll do next. (they are currently on tour supporting their 21st (?) studio album).
- used to listen mostly to Yes, King Crimson, etc., a few hard rock/early metal bands plus The Doors (huge fan for a while there) and Hendrix. things seemed to fade away somehow in the '80s IMHO.
"JAM BAND"
- Dave Matthews Band (esp. 'Busted Stuff', 'Crash')
JAZZ etc.
- most stuff from the early Blue Note days and Bop - Dizz, Bird, Miles, et al.
- Ellington, Buddy Rich Big Band.
- high quality ragtime music.
- Classical Indian music - it has to be the good stuff, not something you'd hear at a restaurant!
and so on...