1. Mozart. An irreplaceable genius. Composing from the age of 6, Mozart’s repertoire varied from light waltzes and dances to the spiritual elevating choral music of Missa Brevis. He composed over 600 pieces, including symphonies, operas and chamber music. Mozart combined the light and playful with the moving and emotionally penetrating.
2. Beethoven. Another prodigious genius. When composing Beethoven entered another world rarely ventured by human souls. He brought down music of tremendous power, soulfulness and had a lasting influence over western classical music. His greatest works include his symphonies and his choral work Missa Solemnis.
3. Schubert. One of the few composers to evoke the spirit of Mozart, especially in his work – Symphony number 5. Schubert was also a great composer of songs and wrote an immortal version of Ave Maria
4. J.S. Bach. One of the most prolific writers of choral music. He brought Baroque music to its pinnacle of musical maturity.
5. F. Chopin. One of the greatest composers for the piano
6. Pyotor Tchaikovsky. The greatest composer of the Romantic period. Including the monumental 1812 overture and ballet compositions – Swan Lake and Nutcracker.
7. Rachmaninov. Famous for classical music’s most explosive and dynamic Piano Concerto’s no.1 and no.2
8. F. Liszt.
9. Joseph Haydn. One of the highest profile composers of the eighteenth century.
10. Antonio Lucio Vivaldi A great composer of the baroque period. His compositions include his famous four seasons.

Related pages

• Edward Elgar
• Who Would you choose to be the greatest classical composer of all time?
• Music Biographies