I like classical music to be pretty and fun. I'm not so much into the sombre, or brooding pieces personally. I suppose I therefore agree with your assessment of Moz and Beet whilst still preference Moz.
We're all entitled to our preferences. I tend to like dramatic music, and that's something a full orchestra can do very well. Some of Van's work is stirring stuff, but he can be a bit technical and dour at times. Most classical musicians seem to rank Beethoven near or at the top of their "best of" lists, but as I'm only an extremely amateur guitar player I can't really say.
It probably matters how or when you're listening too. Classical for me tends to be my, "oh crap, Ive gotta get this done by the end of the day" music. I use it to help me focus whilst working. It helps to have something lighter playing, which is why I like Strauss or Komzak. Helps me focus and relieves stress.
There are actually 3 Karel Komzaks (father, son, grandson) the middle one is the most prolific, but all three are very similar in style, I actually couldn't tell you which of the pieces were by which without looking it up. Karel II is the one most referred to one and the famous one. If you ever remember hearing about a composer that got run over by a train, that was one of the Karel Komzaks... Can't remember which one. Yes, Komzak did primarily waltzes and light marches. Similar to Strauss or Waldteufel styles.
Yes. I blame mum because it's what she used to play when I was a kid at home and what I grew up liking.
plokas and such? The austria hungarians seemed to like big balls with dancing while the other courts seems to like their more staged piano forte or opera etc.
It was Delboy who likes Plonkas. Yeah, and Mum is Hungarian. I'm not a big dancer, I don't ballroom dance, but I do like the uplifting lively rondos, waltzes, and Polkas. My other go-to "working" music is gypsy jazz. Very definitely the "jazz equivalent" if such a thing exists.
Backstreet's Back is actually all about the resurrection of christ. Always good to break that one out on good friday