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see ROMANTICISM.
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), a Polish-born composer, created
dance and lyric compositions of great virtuosity. Written
almost exclusively for the piano, his works are filled with
romantic intensity and have a classical clarity of expression.
(The Bettmann Archive) Music: Nocturne No. 2 in E Flat, Opus
9.
Franz Liszt (1811-86), a Hungarian composer, gave his first
piano concert at the age of nine and eventually became the
acknowledged master pianist of his day. A prolific composer,
he produced more than 700 works, including the Faust Symphony
and his 20 Hungarian Rhapsodies. (The Bettmann Archive)
Richard Strauss (1864-1949), a German composer-conductor,
was the last composer of the romantic tradition. He is best
known for his tone poems, such as Thus Spake Zarathustra,
and for operas, including Salome and Der Rosenkavalier. (The
Bettmann Archive)
Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-93), probably the most popular
19th century Russian composer, was also the first to have
a formal music education. Among his better known works are
the ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker,
his opera Eugene Onegin, and the 1812 Overture. (The Bettmann
Archive) Music: The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Sugarplum
Fairy."
Richard Wagner (1813-1883), regarded as the greatest composer
of German opera, used German myths and legends as a basis
for his librettos. Tannhauser, Lohengrin, and the tetralogy
Der Ring des Nibelungen are among his most admired operas.
(The Bettmann Archive) Music: Die Walkure: Ride of the Valkyries.
Johannes Brahms (1833-97) was a major German composer of instrumental
and vocal music during the 19th century. In his works, Brahms
combined a profound grasp of technique with the warmth of
romanticism. (The Bettmann Archive)
The Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) became prominent
at a time when many Bohemians were advocating independence
from the Austrian Empire. Dvorak reflected this rising spirit
of nationalism in his music by drawing much of his inspiration
from the folk melodies of his native Bohemia. (The Bettmann
Archive)
The German composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47) was considered
one of the foremost composers of the early 19th century. Within
the confines of classical forms, he created lyrical expressions
characteristic of the early romantic movement. Among his most
admired works are the overture to A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1826), the Scotch symphony (1842), and the violin concerto
in E minor (1844). (The Bettmann Archive)
Robert Schumann was one of the foremost German composers of
the romantic era. In his songs, piano works, chamber music,
and symphonies, he rendered literary ideas and visual scenes
in expressive musical terms. Schumann was also an influential
critic who helped launch the careers of Chopin and Brahms.
(The Bettmann Archive)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), one of the greatest Italian composers
of the 19th century, created operas of dramatic intensity,
soaring melody, and subtle characterization. La Traviata (1853),
Aida (1871), and Otello (1887) are three of his most highly
acclaimed dramatic operas. His works are still among the most
popular in the international operatic repertoire. (The Bettmann
Archive)
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