Speaking of which, what would be your advice to get me into classical music? What was your way in? Was there something that made it click for you?
I was learning the piano from when I was about 10 which obviously helped a lot (none of my friends are into classical). I got into classical music more heavily when I was a teenager and presumably massive mood swings helped me to identify with romantic era music (Chopin particularly). This was at the same time as developing an obsession with rap music, then later punk and (shudder) indie. Through all the vicissitudes of taste I've gone through classical music has been the constant, although my preference for composers has changed - lately it's been a lot of Scarlatti and Mozart piano music, whereas once it was all Chopin and Rachmaninoff.
The first Chopin piece I remember hearing was this:
The beauty of the melody (which in those days probably made me well up), the gathering fury of the mid section and then the even more beautiful transition back to the original theme.
Actually, one of the first classical pieces I really went nuts for was the Bach Toccata and Fugue (below) that was in 'Fantasia' (orchestrated). 'Fantasia' was probably the thing that most sold me on classical music at that age.
Another piece that really blew my mind was this:
As far as introductions go, I'd say just listen to bits and pieces by the major composers and see what takes your fancy (if anything). Interestingly enough, some stuff that is probably considered less accessible (modernist music, e.g.) might appeal more to you as a fan of jazz. Debussy would be an ideal starting point for a jazz fan:
Although this might be too literal an introduction, Leonard Bernstein's lecture on Beethoven's 'Eroica' symphony is very interesting and accessible:
Speaking of Beethoven, his symphonies are so thrilling I can't imagine even classical-phobics getting bored by them. Try 5 and 7:
I've saved classical pieces I like/love on one big playlist here: