50 Best Classical Composers of All Time: A Guide for Classical Music Lovers

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Ladies and Gentlemen, do you know why these are the best classical composers of all time? If you want to hear wonderful music from the most famous composers in history, you’re in the right place.

classical music composers

We can recognize that classical music exerts a great influence on modern and contemporary compositions and on other forms of art. Here are those composers who revolutionized the music of their time, classical musicians who continue to inspire generations.

 

Top 50 Best Classical Composers

Enjoy these wonderful playlists of the greatest classical composers of all time. Check below some of the genius of these incredible composers of classical music and some of their best known works, I hope you like it. So let’s meet these 50 classical composers and find out why they’re so great.

 

1. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

This fabulous German genius is recognized as one of the greatest classical composers in history. He wrote several works between concerts, escapes, suites and cantatas, small pieces for harpsichord. It is considered the greatest organist of all time. Among the most famous works are: Jesus, Joy of Men, the Brandenburg Concerts, Tocata and Escape in D minor for organ and The Well Tempered Carnation.

 

 

2. Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Considered one of the most influential geniuses in human history. His best known songs are the little piano piece Für Elise, His collection of 32 Piano Sonatas, among which we find the acclaimed: Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”, No. 8, “Pathétique”, No. 23, “Appassionata “, No.29 in B-flat Major,” Hammerklavier “. Symphonies No. 5 and No. 9 are considered their great masterpieces.

 

 

3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Mozart is a great representative of the Classical period. His incredible musicality gifted humanity with beautiful melodies that raised classical music to its perfection.

The joy in Mozart’s music is full of serenity, his compositions of heavenly purity are second to none. His most famous works are Eine Kleine Nachtmusik serenade, Piano Concertos No.20, 21, 23, Rondo Alla Turkish Sonata in A Major K331, Opera “The Magic Flute”, Symphony No.40 and other wonderful music

 

 

4. Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

What can I say about Chopin that someone has not said before? Sometimes I wonder how he lived so little but still managed to write some of the most beautiful piano pieces of all time. His piano songs bring an elegant romanticism of beautiful melodies and truly poetic and wonderful harmonies. All his work is recommended: Studies, preludes, nocturne, waltzes, mazurkas, ballads, sonatas and concerts.

 

 

5. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1685-1750)

Tchaikovsky was born in 1840 in the Russian city of Votkinsk. One of the six children of a Russian middle-class family, in his own words, had his first musical impressions of his mother’s popular songs. At age five, he learned to play the piano. Some of his major works are: Swan Lake, The Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, The Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, among other important compositions.

 

6. Richard Wagner (1813–1883)

Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany on May 22, 1813. He was the creator of one of the most intense and powerful musical works of all time, became one of the most expressive classical composers, created numerous dramatic operas. His most ambitious work is “The Ring of the Nibelungs,” based on grand Norse mythology, became such an influential work that it inspired Tolkien to write the Lord of the Rings.

 

 

7. Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, Lower Austria on March 31, 1732 and died on May 31, 1809. Haydn is the initiator of a new phase in the history of music. The most important sections of Haydn’s instrumental music are symphonies and quartets. Special highlight for the Trumpet Concert in Eb.

 

 

8. Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Brahms devoted himself to all forms except ballet and opera. As a classical composer, he managed to unite the formal preoccupation of classicism with a romantic expression of pure music. Among his most important pieces are the Hungarian Dances.

 

9. Franz Schubert (1797–1828)

Your music is full of an emotion that arouses the deepest feelings of the soul. He was one of the greatest connoisseurs of the musical style called lied, his compositions have beautiful melodies and a lot of poetic naturalness. Also noteworthy in his immense musical work are his symphonies and the numerous piano pieces.

 

 

10. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Was one of the best classical composers, was a German artist who naturalized English. He stood out as an important harpsichordist, organist and violinist. His most acclaimed work is the imposing oratory The Messiah.

 

 

11. Robert Schumann (1810–1856)

We have here one of the greatest classical composers and romantic classical pianist. He was a piano poets, unique case in the history of music. Each of his compositions are extremely original works that express a soft and inspiring delicacy. His most famous works are: Carnival, Piano Concert in A Minor, Träumerei which belongs to the set of small piano pieces known as Kinderszenen.

 

 

12. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

The Italian musician and composer lived in Venice, was a great violinist. He composed over 600 works, including concerts, sacred music and operas. His most famous composition is the concert known as The Four Seasons.

 

 

13. Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)

An important Italian composer, he was especially dedicated to creating operas such as: Rigoletto, Aída, La Traviatta, Nabucco and many others.

 

 

14. Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

Hailed as the greatest pianist of all time, he was strongly influenced by Paganini, among his most notable compositions are the piano piece set known as Hungarian Rhapsody. They are simply fantastic solo piano pieces, I wrote an entire post dedicated to Franz Liszt, where I cover some important facts of his life and point out some of his best piano pieces. I think you’ll like it.

 

 

15. Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Born in Oraniembaum, a small Russian town near St. Petersburg, Stravinsky met Rimsky-Korsakov, who recognized him as a great promise and went on to teach private piano and musical harmony, became friends with other famous composers such as Debussy and Diaghilev. His main musical works are the ballet The Firebird, Petrouchka and the celebrated The Rite of Spring.

 

 

16. Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Was a revolutionary classical composers, created modern musical harmonies that influenced contemporary music among his most famous works are Pélleas et Mélisande, La mer and many classical piano pieces such as Clair de Lune.

 

 

17. Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)

A member of the so-called nationalist school of the romantic period, established himself as one of the leading names in 19th century classical music, and the best known figure in Czech composition. He was director of the New York National Conservatory of Music, during this period he composed two of his most famous works: Symphony No. 9 (“Symphony of the New World”) and the F Major Quartet, known as “American Quartet”.

 

 

18. Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Considered by scholars as one of the great rulers of history. Mahler was born in a small village called Kalischt, located in Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic). His songs include his 10 symphonies.

 

19. Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Born in Munich in 1864. Under the age of five, he learned to play the piano. In addition to composing, Strauss was for several years director of the Royal Opera of Berlin, director of the Vienna Opera and one of the creators of the Salzburg Festival. His main works are: Don Juan (1888), Death and Transfiguration (1889), Till Eulenspiegel (1894), Thus Spake Zarathustra (1896), among others.

 

 

20. Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Pianist and composer of classical modernism, gained fame for his often incomprehensible works. Some notable songs are Children’s Play Pedro and the Wolf, Piano Concerto No 1, No 2, No 3.

 

 

21. Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Shostakovich left a wonderful and rich work, closely linked to the Soviet people. His main works are the 15 symphonies, the 15 quartets and the six concerts.

 

 

22. Béla Bartók (1891-1953)

The most important Hungarian composer after Liszt, lived in the period between the two Great Wars, created genius works such as Piano Concerts No 1 and 2, fabulous are String Quartet No 3 and  4, in addition to his important collection. for piano studies known as Mikrokosmos.

 

 

23. Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

One of the great French classical composers, in 1830 he composed the fantastic Symphony, one of his masterpieces. Its innovative orchestration influenced the entire 19th century. His works were very successful abroad, especially in Germany and Russia, where the composer was several times.

 

 

24. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1590)

Largest representative of Italian Renaissance music, A among Palestrina’s musical creations are 104 masses, 375 motets, 68 offerings, 65 hymns, 35 magnificats, 56 madrigals and many other compositions.

 

 

25. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Monteverdi was the last of the great polyphonist composers, was an innovator, introducing instrumental accompaniments, dissonances and chromatisms. He wrote religious works such as spiritual Madrigals and other styles of religious music, wrote the first great opera (Orpheus).

 

 

26. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

He is the largest representative of Norwegian classical music, strongly influenced by Schumann, his masterpiece is the incidental music for Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt“, from which he created two wonderful and popular symphonic suites. Among numerous works for piano also stands the imposing concert for piano and orchestra in A minor.

 

 

27. Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

He is one of the most important Scandinavian classical composers, his melodies are full of the influence of Finnish folk songs, landscapes, history and mythology, some of his most notable works are: Finland, Tapiola and the Waltz Triste, integrated in Kuolema.

 

 

28. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

French composer, was part of the Impressionist movement of French classical music together with his compatriots Debussy and Satie, his most famous songs are La valse, Rapsodie espagnole, The Bolero and many other wonderful works, one of my favorites is the Concert de Piano and orchestra performed only with the left hand.

 

 

29. Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881)

A great Russian classical composer who was part of the club of five, was an extremely nationalist artist, sought to highlight Russian music and the traditions of his country. Among his compositions we have the famous Quadros of an exhibition.

 

 

30. Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868)

Considered one of the greatest classical composers, wrote some of the most famous operas of all time. He composed the first opera at 18 years. Alongside The Barber of Seville, works such as Cenerentola and La gazza ladra, Otello and Semiramide, William Tell are his most impressive works.

 

 

31. Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Composed Turandot, La Boheme, Tosca, and many other classics. He distinguished himself by introducing in his works a historical melodrama of exotic characteristics. His works are well known, as well as those of his compatriot Giuseppe Verdi, this demonstrates the important Italian operatic tradition for the world of classical music.

 

 

Related: 21 Best opera songs for you to listen to today | opera arias

 

32. Edward Elgar (1857–1934)

The most important English composer, was a brilliant composer and violinist, his most important works are: Enigma Variations where we find the beautiful melody of the variation Nimrod, pomp and circumstance much used in weddings and the famous concert for cello and orchestra.

 

 

33. Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

Considered to be one of the most amazing and admired piano virtuosos in the history of classical music, he developed an important piano work as the wonderful op preludes. 23, preludes op. 32, Sonata No 1 in D minor Studies op. 33, Studies op. 39 and its 4 famous piano and orchestra concerts, with special emphasis on No. 2 and No. 3.

 

 

34. Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Lived many years and composed a huge number of songs. He became known for his symphonic poems, especially the Macabre Dance, other notable works are the Piano Concerts No. 2 in minor sun and No. 4 in C minor, the Violin Concerto No. 3 itself minor and o Cello Concert No. 2 in D minor.

 

 

35. Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

A great German composer who at the age of 17 composed his most famous masterpiece The Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on the work of William Shakespeare.

 

 

36. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Wrote an orchestration treatise that was widely used to study musical composition during the 20th century. Some of his most important creations are the Sheherazade symphonic work and Russian folk songs.

 

 

37. Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Austrian composer author of several important symphonies was a great admirer of Wagner’s style, wrote several choir and organ pieces and nine symphonies. His best known work is Symphony No. 4 in E flat major, called “Romantic.”

 

 

38. Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)

Pioneer of German Romanticism, his most famous work is “Der Freischütz” which created the basis of the sound and tone of the German romantic opera.

 

 

39. Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. His best known musical pieces are: Pavane, Op. 50, Requiem Op. 48 and many piano works.

 

 

40. Erik Satie (1866-1925)

French Impressionist Pianist, adopted a minimalist style, composed works of great harmonic beauty, highlighting the Three Gymnopédies for piano.

 

 

41. Bedrick Smetana (1824-1884)

Czech composer, became famous thanks to his program music for orchestra, was influenced by Liszt in his masterpiece the symphonic cycle “My Land” and “Vltava“, a great symphonic poem that builds the musical biography of his homeland.

 

 

42. Georges Bizet (1838-1875)

Georges Bizet – He was an important French composer, author of opera Carmen who is considered until today as one of the most popular works in the lyrical repertoire. The melody of “Habanera” and “Song of the Bullfighter”, which belong to Suite no. 2 by Carmen, they are even featured on many smartphone models and are constantly featured in music conservatories and the best opera theaters.

 

 

43. Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)

Great Italian musician, son of Alessandro Scarlatti, dedicated himself to the same type of composition of his father, but never managed to overcome it, dedicated specifically to keyboard compositions. He was a great harpsichord virtuoso and one of the greatest developers of techniques such as arpeggios, jumps, passing notes and others that Liszt and Chopin would come to perfect.

 

 

44. Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)

Italian composer author of the famous comedies Elixir do Amor and Don Pasquale, are considered masterpieces of comic opera and still remain in the repertoire of lyrical companies. He worked with Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland on opera Anna Bolena, but her biggest success is Lucia de Lammermoor.

 

 

45. Archangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

He was an excellent Italian violinist and composer of Baroque music, exerted great influence on German composers, especially Bach and Händel, his most important work is the collection of baroque pieces known as Concerto Grosso.

 

 

46. Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)

Austrian from Vienna, was well known for the success of his 150 waltzes and 17 operettas, his most notable works are: Die Fledermaus, Du und Du, A Night in Venice, Voices of Spring.

 

 

47. Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)

Russian chemist and composer, was part of the group of five who besides himself, were also Mily Balakirev, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Cesar Cui and Modesto Mussorgsky. He composed symphonies, piano songs and the opera Prince Igor.

 

 

48. César Franck (1822-1890)

He was one of the leading Belgiam composers, best organists of the time. In chamber music he had outstanding works such as the Piano Quintet, Prelude, Piano Chorus and Escape, the Violin Sonata and the String Quartet.

 

 

49. Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (1872-1915)

He was a contemporary Russian composer of Debussy, took piano lessons as a child and studied at the Moscow Conservatory, his best known works are piano sonatas and piano studies.

 

 

50. Charles Gounod (1818-1893)

Another of France’s great classical composers, He was a religious musician,, wrote about 20 masses, 2 Requiem, motets, chants, 12 operas, oratorios, choirs and cantatas, 2 symphonies, piano pieces, about 140 melodies. His interpretation of Ave Maria for solo piano is one of the most performed pieces of all time.

 

 

Final thoughts on this incredible list of classical music composers

I will suggest these valuable lessons that I discovered long ago on my musical pilgrimage across the web. Continue traveling through the wonderful world of classical music with these teachings I learned from this Yale University music history professor.

Did you like our list of the 50 best classical composers? It was definitely not an easy task, it was very difficult to choose and we had to leave many others out. Have you ever heard the music of these composers? Tell me in the comments who is your favorite, or if I’m missing out on some amazing artist that should be on this list of the greatest composers of all time.