THE 23 MOST IMPORTANT COMPOSERS OF ROMANTICISM - ART - 2025

The great composers of Romanticism developed during the musical period in the West from the end of the 18th century to the first part of the 19th century. This musical movement was related to the literary and artistic trend of the same name that emerged in Europe during the second half of the 18th century, mainly in Germany.

During this period, music became more expressive and emotional, becoming an accompaniment to contemporary literary, artistic, and philosophical themes. The size of the orchestration grew considerably during Romanticism, as did the dynamic range and the diversity of instruments used in it.

Public concerts became a linchpin of urban middle-class society, in contrast to earlier historical moments where concerts were mainly paid for and performed for the aristocracy.

Among the characteristics of Romanticism can be mentioned a new surrender to the natural, a fascination with the past (particularly with medieval legends), a new look towards the mystical and supernatural, a nostalgia for the infinite and a focus on the fantastic, spiritual. and ghostly.

Nationalism was also a motif among the composers and musicians of Romanticism. The manifestation of intense feelings in the compositions was the focus of most of the arts that developed during this historical period.

The programmatic symphony, the symphonic poem, the dramatic music, the Bel Canto opera and the concert overture are genres that were gestated and popularized during Romanticism as alternative forms of the classical sonatas and symphonies.

Below is a ranking of the main musicians and composers of Romanticism.

1- Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

He was a German pianist and composer, a crucial figure in the transition between the classical and romantic eras in Western music. He continues to be one of the most influential and famous composers of all time.

His works include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, a violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Missa Solemnis and the opera Fidelio. He also composed chamber music, choral works and songs.

After his 25 years his hearing began to deteriorate and he spent the last decade of his life almost totally deaf. In 1811 he gave up conducting and stopped playing the piano in public, but continued to compose. Many of his most admired works were composed during this stage.

2- Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Austrian musician, died before his 32nd birthday, however he had a very prolific career as a songwriter. He composed more than 600 secular vocal works, seven complete symphonies, sacred music, opera, incidental music, and a great deal of chamber and piano music.

While he lived, his music was appreciated only by a small group of admirers in Vienna. The real interest in his work began after his death, when it was promoted and praised by other composers of the time such as Mendelssohn, Schumann and Liszt.

3- Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805-1847)

This German composer and pianist, sister of Felix Mendhelsson, composed more than 460 works. Her compositions include a piano trio and several solo piano books and songs. Many of her works were published under the name of her brother, within her Opus eighth and ninth.

4- Louis-Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

French composer, best known for his Symphonie fantastique and his Grande messe des morts (Requiem). His contributions to the shaping of the modern orchestra were significant, thanks to his Treatise on Instrumentation. He used up to 1,000 musicians in various concerts he conducted.

5- Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

German composer, pianist, organist and conductor, belonging to early Romanticism. Grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, he was born into a prominent Jewish family.

He enjoyed great success in Germany, where he revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote various symphonies, concerts and oratorios.

6- Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1810-1849)

Born in Poland, this virtuous pianist and composer basically wrote works for piano, although his works also include some chamber pieces.

His keyboard style is highly individual and in many pieces, technically very demanding. She was one of the first "superstars" of romantic music.

7- Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

German composer and influential music critic. He dropped out of law studies to pursue a career as a pianist. After a hand injury, he focused his efforts on songwriting.

His compositions focused mainly on the piano. He suffered from a mental disorder that caused him serious depression, which ended up putting him in a psychiatric hospital.

8- Franz Joseph Liszt (1811-1886)

This German composer, theater director, and conductor is best known for his operas. Like many composers of the genre, Wagner composed both the libretto and the music for his works.

His opera The Ring of the Nibelungs consisted of four parts. His music has been used frequently in films, such as the films Apocalypse Now (Coppola), Excalibur (Boorman) and Melancolía (von Trier).

10- Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Italian opera composer. He participated in Italian unification movements. His political vision was present in many of his works, as is the case with his opera Nabucco.

He reached the peak of his success with the opera Aida, yet he continued to amaze with masterpieces such as Requiem, Otello, and Missing. His works remain very popular, especially those of his "middle" period, such as Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and La traviata.

11- Clara Wieck Schumann (1819-1896)

Born in Hamburg, this German composer and pianist spent most of his professional career in Vienna. His reputation and status as a composer is such that he is sometimes grouped alongside Bach and Beethoven as one of the "3 Bs" of Romantic music.

He composed for symphony orchestra, chamber groups, piano, organ, voice and choir. Many of his works are already standard in the concert repertoire. A perfectionist, it is said that he destroyed many of his works and left several more unpublished.

14- Georges Bizet (1838-1875)

French composer best known for his operas in a career that was cut short early by his death. He achieved several hits before his final work, Carmen, which has become one of the most popular and frequently performed within the full operatic repertoire.

15- Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Russian composer, belonging to the late Romantic movement. Several of his works are among the most popular pieces in the classical music reporter.

He was the first Russian composer whose work stood out internationally, leading him to perform as a guest conductor in Europe and even the United States.

Despite the musical success, Tchaikovsky's life was plagued with personal crisis and depression. Her homosexuality, which she had to keep secret throughout her life, was a contributing factor to her deteriorating emotional state.

16- Antonin Dvorák (1841-1904)

After Smetana, Dvorák was the second Czech composer to gain international notoriety. Following the path of the pioneer Smetana, he developed his work frequently using aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia.

He was an outstanding violinist from his childhood. He wrote nine operas, most in a Czech nationalist spirit, the most popular being Rusalka.

17- Ruggiero Leoncavallo (1857-1919)

Italian opera composer and librettist who composed numerous works during his career, but whose greatest contribution to the music of Romanticism was his two-act Pagliacci. Leoncavallo could not escape the overwhelming success of his work, for which he is most remembered to this day.

18- Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Austrian composer, one of the most prominent conductors of his generation. As a composer, he was a bridge between the Austro-German tradition of the 19th century and the modernism of the early 20th century.

His music was banned during the Nazi era, although it resurfaced after the second war to be rescued by a new generation of listeners.

19- Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

He was a French composer and, along with Maurice Ravel, one of the most prominent figures associated with musical impressionism. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1903.

His music is notable for its sensory content and the frequent use of non-traditional tonalities. The prominent literary style in France during the period in which he developed his work is called Symbolism and he was definitely influenced by Debussy, as a composer and as an active cultural participant.

20- Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

French composer who, along with his compatriot Debussy, is associated with Impressionism, although both composers rejected the term at the time. In the 1920s and 1930s he was considered the most outstanding living French musician.

21- Richard Strauss (1804-1849)

This Austrian Romantic composer was famous for his waltzes, which he popularized with Joseph Lanner. He laid the foundations that his sons would use to continue his musical dynasty. His most recognized work is the Radetzky March, named after Joseph Radetzky von Radetz.

22- Joseph Lanner (1801-1843)

Austrian composer of dance pieces, he is remembered as one of the first to reform the waltz, making it pass from a simple popular dance in a genre that high society could enjoy. He was as famous as his friend and musical rival Johann Strauss.

23- Amy Beach (1867-1944)

American pianist and composer, she was the first American-born composer to stand out in the world of artistic music. As a pianist, she was highly recognized in concerts she performed in the United States and Germany.

He wrote the Gaelic Symphony and the Piano Concerto in C minor. She was also a musical intellectual who wrote for newspapers, magazines and other publications.