March 8th – Hector Berlioz, French Romantic composer-
150 years since death
Hector Berloiz was a French Romantic composer, considered one of the greatest composers of the 19th century. Berloiz was fascinated by music as a child and with little formal training, successfully became a player of the flute and guitar. It was uncommon at the time for a composer to not have expert instrumental skills, however he is well known as a legendary self-taught composer, composing his own elements of harmony and inspiring futuristic symphonies.
April 18th – Franz Von Suppe, Austrian composer and conductor-
200 years since birth
Franz Von Suppe is an Austrian composer and conductor from the Romantic period, well known for his light operas and variety of theatre music. Franz Von Suppe is notable for four dozen operettas, with his music being described as lively and attractive. Suppe, in his early career, studied law in Italy and brought a lifetime’s reserve of Italianate melody to Vienna.
Portrait of Franz von Suppe (b/w photo), Austrian Photographer, (19th century) / Private Collection / Look and Learn / Elgar Collection
April 20th – Carl Loewe, German composer-
150 years since death
Carl Loewe was a tenor singer and conductor. Well known for completing several tours as a singer around Europe and for composing five operas, Loewe completed his music training in Halle, Germany and is considered by critics to be the ‘Schubert of North Germany’. The music from Loewe is charismatic, dramatic and recitative.
May 5th – Stanislaw Moniuszko, Polish composer-
200 years since birth
Stanislaw Moniuszko was a polish composer, conductor and teacher who composed many popular art songs and operas based on patriotic folk themes of the people of the former Polish, Lithuanian Commonwealth.
May 16th – Liberace, American pianist-
100 years since birth
Liberace’s career spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures and endorsements. Liberace frequently performed in Las Vegas and twice had his own show. Brought up in Winconsin, United States into a musical family, he obtained a natural talent as an entertainer. Liberace attended classical training and became one of the most famous performers of the 20th century. Critics often describe Liberace to be ‘flamboyant’ and ‘glitzy’, these attributes perhaps are what helped make him popular to the public.
June 20th – Jacques Offenbach, German-born French composer, cellist and impresario-
200 years since birth
Jacques Offenbach is best known for his 100 operettas of the 1850s-1870s and his uncompleted work of the opera ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’. Offenbach created a style of opera called the light french comic opera, ‘operette’, this became one of the most characteristic artistic products of the period.
The late Jacques Offenbach (engraving), English School, (19th century) / Private Collection / Look and Learn / Illustrated Papers Collection
August 6th – Barbara Strozzzi, Italian baroque singer and composer
400 years since birth
Barbara Strozzi is well known for her Baroque compositions completed during her lifetime. She is one of the few women in the 17th century to actually publish her own compositions. Strozzi’s father, a poet called Giulio Strozzi used his intellectual connections to showcase his daughter’s talents and to advance her career. Without her father’s connections and involvement in the musical activities in Venice, it is unlikely that she would of been able to launch her career as a composer, however it is true to say that her works were a huge success thanks to their own strengths once witnessed.
Caricature of Barbara Strozzi holding archlute, Minnion, John (b.1949) / Private Collection / Photo © John Minnion
August 9th – Ruggero Leoncavallo, Italian composer –
100 years since death
Ruggero Leoncavallo produced a large number of operas and songs throughout his career but is most well-known for an opera called Pagliacci, 1892.
Portrait of Ruggero Leoncavallo (litho), Italian School, (20th century) / Private Collection / Look and Learn / Elgar Collection
September 13th – Clara Schumann,German musician and composer –
200 years since birth
Clara Schumann is considered one of the most distinguishable composers and pianists of the Romantic Era. Schumann is described by music critics to have exquisite skill; her music turned heads all over Europe.
Madame Clara Schumann (engraving), English School, (19th century) / Private Collection / Look and Learn / Illustrated Papers Collection
September 27th – Adelina Patti, Opera singer –
100 years since death
Adelina Patti was an Italian-French opera singer (soprano), who was successful as she earned high pay from the music capitals of Europe and America. Her voice was considered to be gentle but had a pure quality. As well as singing she entertained in comedy and was a successful actress.
November 14th – Leopold Mozart, German composer, conductor, teacher and violinist and father of Wolfgang Mozart –
300 years since birth
Leopold Mozart wrote a large amount of music, however only a few of these remain today. He is well known as the teacher of his son Wolfgang Mozart and spent his time editing and cataloging his son’s compositions.
December 22nd – Franz Abt, German composer and choral conductor –
200 years since birth
Franz Abt composed approximately 3000 individual works, mostly relating to vocal study. His songs are extremely popular and universally well known. He is also prolific in writing music for male choirs.
Franz Abt (gravure), English School, (19th century) / Private Collection / Look and Learn / Rosenberg Collection
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