Top 10 Romantic composers

Gramophone
Thursday, January 2, 2025

The Romantic period was one of the most innovative in music history, characterised by lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and emotive expression. Here's our beginner's guide to the greatest composers of the Romantic period

Hector Berlioz (1803-69)

The arch-Romantic composer, Hector Berlioz’s life was all you’d expect – by turn turbulent and passionate, ecstatic and melancholic.

Key recording:

Les Troyens 

Sols incl DiDonato, Spyres, Lemieux; Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra / John Nelson (Gramophone's 2018 Recording of the Year) Read the review

Explore Berlioz:

Top 10 Berlioz albums – 10 great Berlioz recordings by Sir Colin Davis, John Nelson, Régine Crespin, Robin Ticciati and more

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● Top 10 Baroque composers

● Top 10 Classical era composers

● Top 10 Renaissance composers

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Fryderyck Chopin (1810-49)

Few composers command such universal love as Fryderyck Chopin; even fewer still have such a high proportion of all their music in the active repertoire. Yet he is the only great composer who wrote no symphonies, operas, ballets or choral works. His chief claim to immortality relies not on large scale works but on miniature forms.

Key recording:

Piano Concertos No 1 & 2 

Martha Argerich pf Montreal Symphony Orchestra / Charles Dutoit (winner of the Gramophone Concerto Award in 1999) Read the review

Explore Chopin:

The 10 greatest Chopin pianists – Stephen Plaistow recalls the illustrious recorded history of Chopin's oeuvre and offers a personal view of great Chopin interpreters.

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Robert Schumann (1810-56)

Robert Schumann is a key figure in the Romantic movement; none investigated the Romantic’s obsession with feeling and passion quite so thoroughly as him. Schumann died insane, but then some psychologists argue that madness is a necessary attribute of genius.

Key recording:

Symphonies Nos 1-4 

Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Yannick Nézet‑Séguin (Editor's Choice, May 2014) Read the review

Explore Schumann:

Robert Schumann: the story of his prolific ‘year of song’ – Richard Wigmore explores the music of and biography behind Robert Schumann’s miraculous year of song, 1840

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Franz Liszt (1811-86)

Composer, teacher, Abbé, Casanova, writer, sage, pioneer and champion of new music, philanthropist, philosopher and one of the greatest pianists in history, Franz Liszt was the very embodiment of the Romantic spirit. He worked in every field of music except ballet and opera and to each field he contributed a significant development.

Key recording:

'Transcendental: Daniil Trifonov plays Franz Liszt'

Daniil Trifonov pf (Recording of the Month, October 2016; shortlisted for Instrumental Award 2017) Read the review

Explore Liszt:

Podcast: exploring the music of Liszt – Editor Martin Cullingford is joined by Gramophone writer and expert on both Liszt and the piano, Jeremy Nicholas to discuss the composers's greatest works, and the greatest recordings of his music. 

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Richard Wagner (1813-83)

No composer has had so deep an influence on the course of his art, before or since. Entrepreneur, philosopher, poet, conductor, one of the key composers in history and most remarkable men of the 19th century, Richard Wagner knew he was a genius. He was also an unpleasant, egocentric and unscrupulous human being.

Key recording:

Parsifal

Sols incl Jess Thomas, George London, Hans Hotter; Bayreuth Festival Chorus & Orchestra / Hans Knappertsbusch Read the review

Explore Wagner:

The Gramophone Collection: Wagner's Ring – Mike Ashman visits the musical immortals and the younger gods of today to deliver his verdict on the complete Ring on record.

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Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Giuseppe Verdi was never a theoretician or academic, though he was quite able to write a perfectly poised fugue if he felt inclined. What makes him, with Puccini, the most popular of all opera composers is the ability to dream up glorious melodies with an innate understanding of the human voice, to express himself directly, to understand how the theatre works, and to score with technical brilliance, colour and originality.

Key recording:

Aida

Sols incl Anja Harteros, Jonas Kaufmann, Ekaterina Semenchuk; Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia / Antonio Pappano (winner of the 2016 Gramophone Opera Award; Recording of the Month, Awards issue 2015) Read the review

Explore Verdi:

Verdi's Otello: a guide to the best recordings – Richard Lawrence finds at least three very special Otellos, and some electric conducting.

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Anton Bruckner (1824-96)

Anton Bruckner’s reputation rests almost entirely with his symphonies – the symphonies, someone said, that Wagner never wrote.

Key recording:

Symphony No 9

Lucerne Festival Orchestra / Claudio Abbado (Gramophone's 2015 Recording of the Year) Read the review

Explore Bruckner:

Top 10 Bruckner recordings – A beginner's guide to the music of one of the great symphonic composers.

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Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Whatever the atmosphere he wanted to create, Giacomo Puccini’s sound world is unique and unmistakeable with its opulent yet clear-cut orchestration and a miraculous fund of melodies with their bittersweet, tender lyricism. His masterly writing for the voice guarantees the survival of his music for many years to come.

Key recording:

Tosca

Sols incl Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi; Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala Milan / Victor de Sabata Read the review

Explore Puccini:

Maria Callas: the Tosca sessions – Maria Callas’s famous 1953 Tosca, as Christopher Cook reveals for the first time, was riven by tension and driven by a relentless quest for perfection.

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Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-93)

Tchaikovsky is the most popular of all Russian composers, his music combining some nationalist elements with a more cosmopolitan view, but it is music that could only have been written by a Russian. In every genre he shows himself to be one of the greatest melodic fountains who ever lived.

Key recording:

Symphony No 6, Pathétique

MusicAeterna / Teodor Currentzis (Recording of the Month, January 2018) Read the review

Explore Tchaikovsky:

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture: the complete guide – How audiences, performers and the composer himself have responded to this iconic and surprisingly controversial work, by Geoffrey Norris.

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Johannes Brahms (1833-97)

One of the giants of classical music, Johannes Brahms appeared to arrive fully armed, found a style in which he was comfortable – traditional structures and tonality in the German idiom – and stuck to it throughout his life. He was no innovator, preferring the logic of the symphony, sonata, fugue and variation forms.

Key recording:

Symphonies (Complete)

Gewandhaus Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly (Gramophone's 2014 Recording of the Year) Read the review

Explore Brahms:

Brahms's Symphony No 3: a guide to the best recordings – Richard Osborne surveys the finest recordings of the Third Symphony

Unleashed Passion: Olga Scheps

by Georg Predota  January 4th, 2025

The highly acclaimed pianist Olga Scheps was born on 4 January 1986 in Moscow, but she moved to Germany at a young age. She won several local competitions and played her debut performance with orchestra at the age of 14. Since then, she has gained widespread recognition for her delicate yet powerful touch and deep emotional connection to the music.

Olga Scheps

Scheps is particularly praised for her lyrical phrasing, refined dynamic control, and her ability to navigate complex works with both technical precision and expressive depth. Her skilful blending of elegance and sensitivity provides for performances that are both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

As a critic wrote, “her versatility, along with her ability to convey the emotional essence of each composer, has solidified her as one of the leading pianists of her generation.” To celebrate her birthday on 4 January, we decided to feature 5 of her most outstanding performances.

Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 3, Op. 47 

Olga Scheps brings a distinct artistic voice to Chopin’s music. Known for her ability to create a profound emotional connection with the listener, her performances are marked by elegance and restraint but also by a sense of passionate intensity. She doesn’t shy away from the dramatic moments in Chopin’s works, but she never allows them to overwhelm the lyrical beauty of the pieces. I suppose we could call her approach thoughtful, as she seeks to reveal the inner essence of the music rather than relying on showy gestures.

Scheps has been widely praised for her Chopin interpretation. She is often noted for her ability to communicate the full emotional range of Chopin’s works. As a critic wrote, “her delicate phrasing, virtuosic execution, and deep emotional understanding of Chopin’s style have made her a leading interpreter of his music today.”

Ludovico Einaudi: Una Mattina

Olga Scheps brings a deep emotional connection to Ludovico Einaudi’s music, skilfully balancing its meditative calm with moments of emotional intensity. Her use of rubato enhances the lyrical nature of the melodies, making her performances feel intimate and personal. Technically, she excels in executing the repetitive motifs of Einaudi’s minimalist style with precision and fluidity, avoiding monotony while maintaining a natural flow.

Scheps also demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to tone and dynamics, playing with clarity and delicacy and adapting her touch to bring out both the subtle harmonies and emotional peaks of the music. Her recordings of Einaudi have received positive reviews, as she underscores the fine balance between simplicity and expressiveness, “making her performances of Einaudi’s works both captivating and moving.”

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 

In her Beethoven interpretations, Scheps is highly praised for her clarity of playing, her emotional depth and the intellectual rigour of her approach. Beethoven’s wide range of emotional extremes and technical challenges is a natural fit for Scheps, whose playing blends expressive lyricism with precise technique.

She is particularly praised for her ability to balance the grandeur of Beethoven’s works with an intimate, thoughtful approach, bringing both strength and sensitivity to the compositions.

Scheps easily captures the full range of Beethoven’s emotional and intellectual landscapes. Her ability to handle the complexities of Beethoven’s music while maintaining a sense of lyricism and expressiveness makes her, according to critics, “one of the most compelling interpreters of the composer’s works today.”

Erik Satie: 3 Gnossiennes

Schep’s refined and sophisticated reading of Erik Satie has been appreciated by critics and audiences alike. According to critics, “she is able to capture the essence of Satie’s minimalist style without making the music feel dry or overly repetitive.” Her performances are frequently praised for their clarity, sensitivity, and lyrical beauty, and they stand out for their poise, emotional depth, and sensitive touch.

Franz Schubert: Wanderer Fantasie, D. 760

I have left the best for last, as Scheps’ interpretation of Franz Schubert is highly praised for its elegance, emotional depth, and sensitivity. The complex emotional landscapes of Schubert’s music are particularly well-suited for Scheps’ temperament, for her refined touch and expressive phrasing. She has the uncanny ability to penetrate the soul of Schubert’s music, capturing both its delicate beauty and underlying melancholy.

A critic writes, “there is a profound understanding of the music’s subtle harmonic shifts, which she navigates with sensitivity and intelligence. Whether in the wistful beauty or lyrical expansiveness of Schubert’s music, Scheps’ interpretations of Schubert are always filled with natural grace and expressive honesty.”

Seven Works Dedicated to Robert Schumann

 by Emily E. Hogstad  January 8th, 2025

Robert Schumann was one of the leading figures of classical music’s Romantic Era. His music – by turns tempestuous and ecstatic and always heartfelt – made a huge impression not only on audiences but on his fellow composers, too.

Today, we’re looking at seven works that Robert Schumann’s friends and colleagues wrote as tributes to him and his genius.

Josef Kriehuber: Robert Schumann, 1839

Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 2 (1836-39) 

Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann had a bit of an awkward relationship. Schumann raved about Chopin’s music in his music journalism, but Chopin seems to have had a cooler opinion about Schumann’s work.

They met twice. The first time was in 1835 when Chopin was passing through Leipzig after visiting his parents. Schumann wrote about the encounter with great enthusiasm in his diary, but if Chopin ever recorded his impressions of the meeting, such an account hasn’t survived.

Frédéric Chopin

The second and final time was in 1836. Schumann tried initiating the meeting via letter but got no response. Then, one day, he arrived home to find Chopin waiting at his doorstep! They played music for one another, and Robert’s soon-to-be-wife Clara Wieck joined them.

After the visit, Schumann dedicated his Kreisleriana to Chopin, calling him “my friend” on the dedication page. Chopin reciprocated by dedicating this Ballade to Schumann…but was much more formal, dedicating it to “Mr. Robert Schumann,” and (perhaps pointedly) making no mention of friendship.

William Sterndale Bennett: Fantaisie, Op.16 (1837) 

William Sterndale Bennett was a British pianist, composer, and conductor who was born in 1816.

He began composing at an early age, and several big names in European music were very impressed by him. Felix Mendelssohn invited the young man to Leipzig, where he met Robert Schumann. All three men deeply admired each other’s work.

William Sterndale Bennett

In 1837, the year he turned twenty-one, Bennett began teaching at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He also wrote this four-movement “Fantaisie” for solo piano and dedicated it to his friend and mentor Robert Schumann.

Clara Wieck Schumann: 3 Romances, Op.11 (1839) 

Robert Schumann admired many composers, but the one he loved the most was his girlfriend and later wife, Clara Wieck Schumann, who he married in September 1840, a day before her twenty-first birthday.

Andreas Staub: Clara Wieck, 1839

Their courtship was stormy. Her father disapproved of the match and went to court to try to prevent it. There were periods of time when the two were separated against their wills or when Clara was away concertising in the capitals of Europe. But they always found their way back to each other.

It is tempting to read her longing for Robert into these three-yearning works for solo piano that she dedicated to him in 1839, the year before their marriage.

Ignaz Moscheles: Cello Sonata No. 2 (1850-51) 

Ignaz Moscheles was born in 1794 in Prague. He was a talented pianist and composer, and was one of the earliest champions of the music of Beethoven.

As a young man, he made sensational impressions on audiences touring through Europe. One of the listeners particularly affected by his piano playing was none other than Robert Schumann.

Ignaz Moscheles

Moscheles enjoyed a great friendship with the Mendelssohn family due to their Jewish heritage, passion for music, and Moscheles’s acknowledgement of Mendelssohn’s genius. Moscheles and the Mendelssohns were also friends with the Schumanns. (Moscheles even played a three-harpsichord concerto with Clara Schumann once – an unusual sight in the mid-nineteenth century!)

Given their overlapping friendships, it makes sense that Moscheles dedicated this charming Romantic cello sonata to Robert Schumann.

Woldemar Bargiel: Piano Trio No. 1 (1851) 

German composer Woldemar Bargiel’s origin story was complicated.

Bargiel’s mother Mariane Tromlitz was a professional singer. In 1816, she married a demanding piano teacher named Friederich Wieck and had five children with him, among them a prodigy pianist named Clara.

In 1824, unable to endure her marriage any longer, Mariane divorced Wieck and (awkwardly) married Wieck’s best friend Adolphe Bargiel instead. She eventually had three more children with Adolphe, including Woldemar.

Woldemar Bargiel

It worked out well for the young and musical Woldemar to have a brilliant half-sister pianist nine years his senior. She gave career advice and provided him introductions to giants like Mendelssohn and Schumann. Their social circle suggested that he study at the Leipzig Conservatory, which he did between the ages of eighteen and twenty.

In 1848, he moved to Berlin to pursue his career there. This piano trio was written in 1851 and was unpublished for five years until Robert and Clara Schumann worked their connections so that it could be printed. In gratitude, he dedicated it to Robert.

Franz Liszt: Piano Sonata in B-minor (1852-53) 

Clara Wieck Schumann and Franz Liszt had a rocky professional relationship. It started out positively. When she was a young girl, she was awed by his virtuosity, and for his part, Liszt found her compositions impressive, “especially for a woman,” as he reported to his partner, Marie d’Agoult.

Franz Hanfstaengl: Franz Liszt, 1858

But as the years went on, Clara became more and more leery of his brash style and willingness to depart from the score.

An all-out feud erupted in 1848 when Liszt called Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet “typically Leipzig”, which insulted Clara. But Robert smoothed things over, to Clara’s irritation; in her artistic maturity, she didn’t want anything to do with Liszt’s style of music-making.

In 1854, Liszt published this piano sonata and dedicated it to Robert Schumann. Not surprisingly, Clara had a strong reaction, writing in her journal:

Today, Liszt sent me a Sonata dedicated to Robert and some more pieces, together with a polite note. But those pieces are so creepy! Brahms played them to me and I felt really miserable … This is only blind noise – no more healthy thoughts, everything is confused, one cannot see any clear harmonies! And, what is more, I still have to thank him now – this is really awful.

Despite her disgust, Liszt cheerfully retained his admiration for her music and her playing.

Clara Wieck Schumann: Variationen über ein Thema von Robert Schumann, Op.20 (1853) 

It’s fitting that the final work on this list is another one of Clara’s.

This set of variations on a theme originally composed by Robert was written as his 41st birthday present. She wrote it in less than a week.

In this work, Clara includes references to multiple pieces of music by her husband, herself, and Felix Mendelssohn (who had died young and unexpectedly a few years before).

Eduard Magnus: Mendelssohn, 1846

It was one of the last musical projects they shared. Over the winter, Robert’s mental health deteriorated. In February 1854, he nearly died by suicide after jumping off a bridge into the Rhine River. It was determined that he needed to go to an asylum for his own safety. He died in the asylum in 1856. Clara would only be allowed to see him once more, shortly before his passing.

To comfort her, Johannes Brahms wrote his own variations for Clara based on this work after Robert had been institutionalised. It may not be dedicated to Robert officially, but it certainly was dedicated to him in spirit, so here it is as a bonus. We wrote about it here.

The Best of Piano Classical Music 🎻🎼 Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven and more...

22,432 views Jul 15, 2024 #relaxingpiano #beethoven #tchaikovsky

The Best of Piano Classical Music 🎻🎼 Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky,... ♫ 00:00 Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 ( Bach) ♫ 02:19 Rondo Alla Turca (Mozart) ♫ 06:27 Für Elise (Beethoven) ♫ 09:19 Prelude, Op. 28 No. 4 (Chopin) ♫ 12:15 Minuet in G Minor, BWV Anh. 115 (Bach) ♫ 14:11 Moonlight sonata I. Adagio Sostenuto 14 (Beethoven) ♫ 20:35 Concerto No. 21 in C Major, KV 467 (Moza ) ♫ 36:14 Arabesque No. 1 (Debussy) ♫ 41:08 Waltz in A Minor, B. 150, Op. Posth (Chopin) ♫ 43:46 The Entertainer (Scott Joplin) ♫ 47:15 Mariage d_Amour 7 (Chopin) ♫ 51:50 Minuet (Boccherini)