I'm open to anything, from classical to contemporary, pop to metal, doesn't have to be purely instrumentals either.
Look forward to hearing any and all of your recommendations!
Arvo Pärt's "Alina" for "full of sadness, but also breathtakingly beautiful".
Glenn Gould's interpretation of Bach's "das wohltemperierte Klavier". A titan (in the Newtonian sense) of piano interpreting the compositions of the perhaps, along with Mozart, greatest composer of western baroque music. Piano was never the same again.
Anything played by Martha Argerich. Also highly recommendable on video. She is one with the instrument to a degree that is absolutely staggering. No technical prowess resists her, and is always played with intuitive grace and light-handedness, because she never practices. She doesn't have to, she just plays.
eg:
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o77R2TuScWU
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pybqjwf8w8s
and then there's improv; The Köln Concert is superb - but not available on youtube w/out subscription.
Also I highly recommend diving into some Oscar Peterson.