Classical music may not enjoy as much popularity as it used to in its golden age from 17th to the early 20th century. But it continues to impress and inspire, especially the works by the greatest composers of all times. Some of them may have lived hundreds of years ago but their masterpieces simply remain unsurpassed.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
German organist, composer, violist and violinist is widely
regarded as one of the best classical composers of all times. He wrote over
1100 compositions which include cantatas, songs and arias, chorales, passions
and oratorios, organ works, works for harpsichord, concertos,… Best known works
by Bach include the Brandenburg Concertos, Air on the G String, Toccata and
Fugue in D minor and Arioso, to mention only a few.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Austrian composer impressed his contemporaries already as a
child. At the age of 5, he mastered keyboard and violin, and entertained the
social elites including royalty throughout Europe. Mozart composed more than
600 works in all music genres known in his time. Some of most famous and most
widely performed Mozart’s works include Requiem, Symphony No. 40, operas The
Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro, Piano Sonata No 16 in C Major, Symphony
No. 25, Piano Concerto No. 21 and Piano Sonata No. 11 (Mov. 3 - Turkish March).
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
German composer and pianist was the most outstanding figure
in the transition between Classical and Romantic periods, and one of the most
famous classical music composers of all times. Some of his best works including
the 9th symphony were created after he became almost completely deaf. Other
notable works by Beethoven include Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata), 5th
Symphony, 6th Symphony, Bagatelle No. 25 (Für Elise) and Piano Concerto No. 5
in E-flat major, Op.73.
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
The celebrated Italian composer is best known for his operas
that remain popular to this day. His musical career, however, didn’t start
smoothly. After his wife’s death and failure of his second opera (Un giorno di
regno), he fell into despair and nearly give up composing. Fortunately, La
Scala’s impressario convinced him to write Nabucco which was a huge success.
Soon, more followed and Verdi established himself as the dominant figure of the
19th century Italian classical music. Verdi’s most famous operas besides
Nabucco include La traviata, Rigoletto, Aida, Don Carlos, Otello and Falstaff.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Most famous Russian classical music composer wrote in a
variety of genres. He composed symphonies, operas, concertos, chamber music,
sacred choral music, overtures, suites and ballets. Some of his best known
works include his three ballets The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and the Sleeping
Beauty, Marche Slave, First Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Overture
1812, Symphony No. 6, Fantasy Overture (Romeo and Juliet), Serenade for Strings
and opera Eugene Onegin.
Source: http://historylists.org/people/top-10-most-famous-classical-music-composers.html
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