Classical music has a cult following globally. The primary reason for this is the contribution of hundreds of well-renowned artists to the world of classical music. If you were to list all the famous classical music artists, the number would be well over 100.
If you are a music lover like me, you would want to know about the most famous classical music artist ever to walk the earth. Today, we have compiled a list of the ten Best classical music artists so that you can go through their music and experience why they were so great.
Before that, it is time to understand what is classical music exactly.
What is Classical music?
Classical music, aka Art music in the Western world, is characterized by its complex harmonic organization and diverse musical form. The music has been in recognition in its present form since the ninth century. Written manuscripts of classical music are well preserved from that time.
It had a deep following within the church and the royal court during that time. With time, it became the favorite of the masses as well. This gave rise to many classical music artists who became famous globally subsequently. Today, we will cover ten famous classical music artists, which you should listen to if you love this genre of music.
1. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) …
Ludwig van Beethoven is a German composer who was regarded by many as the greatest classical music artist to have ever lived. He was a disciple of Joseph Haydn, whose music he expanded along with that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Even though he had a short-lived career due to his deafness, he composed quite a few classics like Moonlight Sonata, Op during such a short career. 125, Op. 76, along with expanding the scope of the quartet and symphony.
2. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) …
Johann Sebastian Bach was another German composer known for his works like The Well-Tempered Clavier, Brandenburg Concertos, and Mass in B Minor. Even though his compositions were old-fashioned, Staley was greatly admired for his talent. During his lifetime, his composition became pretty famous, but it was once again rediscovered in the 19th century, making him one of the most famous composers worldwide.
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–91) …
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a composer who often experimented with his music and did not shy away from expressing his opinions through music. Such was his popularity that many regard him as the greatest classical music composer of all time. His compositions, like Elvira Madigan, and The Marriage of Figaro, have a cult following even today. Besides composing Classical music, he was well-versed in many other genres of music.
4. Johannes Brahms (1833–97) …
Johannes Brahms is best known for Symphony No. 3 in F major, along with Op. 49, Hungarian dances. He was a German composer in the Romantic period. Besides classical music, he wrote and composed music in many different genres, including folk music.
5. Richard Wagner (1813–83) …
Richard Wagner was a composer who contributed greatly to classical music and opera tradition. His compositions were widely known for exploring place, event, or even character. Needless to say, they were more dramatic compared to many other composers and, therefore, more entertaining. His pair of works include Tristan and Isolde, The Flying Dutchman. Due to his anti-Semitic views and his exploration of various characters in his opinions, he was often regarded as a controversial composer. However, that doesn’t mean his music wasn’t pathbreaking.
6. Claude Debussy (1862–1918) …
Claude Debussy can be regarded as the father of modern classical music. As explained above, classical music consists of complex harmonies and musical structures. Claude Debussy was a maestro of complex harmonies. His works like Clari de Lune, la Mer, and Prelude to the Afternoon of a faun are testament to his musical skills.
7. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–93) …
A composer who evoked emotion through his music.
This is the apt description, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In fact, many regard him to be the best Russian composer to have ever lived. He was well-versed in European compositions because of his schooling. However, his Russian style was pretty evident in compositions like Marche Salvw, Op. 71, Op. 23. He composed many tracks for the ballet as well.
8. Frédéric Chopin (1810–49)
Frédéric Chopin was of Polish French origin. He was a pianist in the Romantic era. His entire career was devoted to a single instrument which was rare for composers of those times. On the positive side, with devotion to the keyboard, he could exploit the piano to the fullest with various innovative techniques that he developed for fingering and pedaling. Some of his musical creations devoted to piano include Heroic Polonaise, B. 49, and Nocturne in C-sharp Minor.
9. Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Joseph Haydn was one of the teachers of Ludwig van Beethoven. He was an Austrian composer who selflessly expanded the classical music field in the 18th century. He was recognized as the founder of many styles and forms of the symphony. The most well-known ones include Symphony No. 92 in G Major and Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major. As an individual, he was known for his wit, light humor, and elegance.
10. Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
Antonio Vivaldi is one of the most versatile composers of classical music. He composed music for operas, and ensembles and even played various solo instruments. Originally, he was an Italian violinist. He often composed music for the whole orchestra as well. Such was his command over his compositions. His most famous work is The Four Seasons for Four violin concerti. If you want to explore some of his other works, those are RV 425, Op. 3, No. 10.
One thing which you will notice in his works is that they are very complex, which is the characteristic of classical music. However, at no point in time are they monotonous. Due to his versatile musical skills, he could explore and compose complex music.
Conclusion
The classical music which we enjoy today is thanks to these maestros who contributed significantly to this genre. To date, when you hear their tracks, you will be surprised by their musical prowess, due to which they were not only able to contribute to the field of classical music but also expand them with each of their compositions. If you want to enjoy classical music in its true form, do go through some of the tracks we have listed above.
