What's new ?

(Franz) Joseph Haydn - the Austrian composer

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:49:07 GMT

A profile of the Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn. Quick facts, bio, interesting links - and more.

Vaughan Williams in a nutshell

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:41:22 GMT

An entertaining and informative profile of the English composer Ralph Vaughan-Williams and some useful links.

Schumann's Bicentenary

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:57:22 GMT

8 June is Robert Schumann's 200th birthday. doubtless there will be a big party up there!
Thank you Robert for such wonderful work.

Centenary of Balakirev's death

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:18:16 GMT

29 May was the centenary of Balakirev's death, so I have added a page for him. He was the mentor of 'The Five' also called 'The Mighty Handful' consisting of Borodin, Cui, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and himself.

Translate this site - over 30 languages available

Fri, 21 May 2010 09:39:42 GMT

You can now access translations of the entire 52composers.com website at the touch of a button thanks to 'Google Tanslate'. You will see a button on the home page and most composer pages.
To check the original text just move the mouse over the words you want to see. Easy!

Contribute your content to 52composers.com

Sun, 16 May 2010 22:59:31 GMT

We have now set up an easy way for you to add content to this site. You are invited to submit articles, reviews, photos, artwork, videos anything relevant to the theme of this site: classical composers and their works.

Mascagni composing at the piano (1932)

Sat, 08 May 2010 10:26:49 GMT

Here is an old home movie of Mascagni at work composing at the piano when he was 70. Towards the end of the clip his grandson comes in to greet him. The

And Happy Birthday to Tchaikovsky also

Fri, 07 May 2010 15:16:20 GMT

170 today.
Tchaikovsky shares his birthday with Brahms who is 177.
Did you see the special Google logo today with an illustration of Swan Lake?

Happy Birthday Johannes

Fri, 07 May 2010 15:16:20 GMT

Johannes Brahms is 177 today.
He shares his birthday celebrations with Tchaikovsky who is 170 today.

Berlioz's 'Les Troyens' (The Trojans)

Wed, 05 May 2010 22:33:16 GMT

Just added an interesting background article about Berlioz's last opera contributed by one of our readers.

Happy Birthday Leoncavallo

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:15:59 GMT

Born on 23 April 1857, 153 years ago.
He used to give his birthday as 8 March 1858 so that he would appear to be younger than his rival Giacomo Puccini.
What a 'pagliaccio'!

Hello Rimsky-Korsakov

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:02:00 GMT

Nikolai is best known for 'The Flight of the Bumblebee' but he produced much, much more. In addition he had a successful career in the Russian Navy and was their Inspector of Bands.

Jacques Offenbach - new page

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:44:51 GMT

Our modern musicals have evolved from 19th century operettas and Offenbach was dubbed "Father of the Operetta".
He was also called the "Mozart of the Champs-Elysees" by Rossini.

Mikhail Glinka - new addition

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:44:51 GMT

'Father of Russian classical music'. Glinka had an immense influence on subsequent composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev and others.
Wine, women, song and doctors were the story of his life.

Happy Birthday Rossini

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:36:58 GMT

Well near enough his birthday. He is one of those unfortunate people to be born on February 29th and therefore has a birthday only every 4 years. Still never mind Gioacchino we'll drink a toast to you now anyway. Cheers!
I've put a great animated video of the 'Thieving Magpie' on the Home page.

Gustav Holst - latest addition

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:05:20 GMT

The latest composer to be added to the site is the English composer Gustav Holst, best known for his 'Planet Suite'.

Happy Birthday George!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:58:58 GMT

Happy Birthday George Frideric Handel. I hope you were pleased with your 250th anniversary celebrations last year. There were some wonderful concerts.

Mahler wins 3 Grammy awards

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:07:27 GMT

Mahler's 8th Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas with the San Fancisco Symphony Orchestra has won 3 Grammy awards. So he is composer of the week and I have posted an interesting video of the rehearsal and recording.

Arcangelo Corelli

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:07:16 GMT

The latest addition to the site is the Italian baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli
- "Father of the Concerto Grosso" and one of the few composers to die a rich man.

Happy Birthday Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:22:19 GMT

Happy Birthday Wolfgang!

Today 27 January is your 254th birthday.

What a tragedy you died so young at 35.

Vivaldi - new page

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:39:32 GMT

I have finally added Vivaldi, the Red Priest, to the site.
Thank goodness they found his music in 1929. It had been lost for 150 years.

Third Centenary of Pergolesi's birth

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:44:11 GMT

Today 4 January would have been his 300th birthday!

How tragic that he only managed to celebrate 26 birthdays on this earth.

He now has a page of his own on 52composers.com

Russian Composers 2010 calendar

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:45:54 GMT

I have just published a new 2010 calendar - Russian Composers.
12 portraits including:
* Borodin * Balakirev * Glinka * Khachaturian * Mussorgsky * Rachmaninov * Prokofiev * Rimsky-Korsakov * Shostakovich * Scriabin * Stravinsky * Tchaikovsky

Happy Birthday Hector!

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:14:36 GMT

Today 11 December would have been his 206th birthday!

I've just added a video of his Shepherd's Farewell, sung by the Kings College Cambridge choir. Very Christmasy.

Sibelius's Finlandia - video of the week

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:18:39 GMT

My Video of the week is one of Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. While playing the piece it shows captions and illustrations telling the history of the piece. Interesting to know the background.

Happy Birthday Mr. Donizetti

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:20:26 GMT

Today is Gaetano Donizetti's birthday so I have made him composer of the week on the home page.
A great pity that he only had 50 birthdays.

Sousa - "The March King"

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:43:03 GMT

John Philip Sousa is the new boy on the block.

See the new portrait and profile with some entertaining quotes and useful links.

Rossini's funeral

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:33:00 GMT

Today 13 November is the anniversary of Rossini's death.

For an interesting collection of images of his funeral visit Antonio Trebbi's photos on Facebook

Johann Pachelbel - new page

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:59:27 GMT

Johann Pachelbel , the German composer of 'Canon in Dmajor'.
He was also an organist, harpsichordist and teacher. He taught Bach's older brother who in turn taught the young Johann Sebastian.

Camille Saint-Sans - latest addition

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:11:55 GMT

Camille Saint-Sans , the French composer of 'Carnival of the Animals'.
He was also a pianist, writer, teacher and (according to Liszt) the world's greatest organist.

November composer anniversaries

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:11:03 GMT

I've added the November list of composer birthdays and dates of death to the home page.
4 births
8 deaths
Not a good month!

Old videos of Rachmaninoff

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:58:12 GMT

I just found on Youtube an interesting video of old home movie clips of Rachmaninoff. It gives a good idea of the family man. Not at all the grumpy Russian which was a common perception of him. I have added it to his page - well worth watching.

Franz Liszt - new page

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:48:13 GMT

Franz Liszt, the Hungarian composer, conductor and virtuoso pianist was the most talented and prolific pianist/composer of all time.

Gustav MAHLER added

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:42:18 GMT

Gustav Mahler, the Bohemian-Austrian composer, was better known as one of the world's leading conductors during his lifetime.

October composer anniversaries

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:03:49 GMT

I have posted the October list of composer anniversaries on the home page. Birthdays this month include: Saint-Sens, Verdi, Vaughan-Williams, Liszt, Bizet and Johann Strauss II.

2010 Classical Music Calendars now available

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:20:47 GMT

Following the success of my 2009 calendars I am publishing some 2010 calendars which are now available. I have just put up a calendar page which you can see by clicking the link.

They feature my portraits of famous composers. The calendars are the best value for buying a set of prints.

Rossini Festivals

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:43:50 GMT

As the 30th Pesaro Rossini Festival starts this Sunday (9 August 2009) I have updated my Rossini page with more content - including his Facebook page, interesting links, career facts and more pictures.

and Happy Birthday Leos Janacek!

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:43:05 GMT

This week (3 July)is also the birthday of Leos Janacek, the Czech composer. So I have created a Janacek store at Cafepress.

Happy Birthday Erik Satie!

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:51:31 GMT

This week (1 July)is the birthday of Erik Satie, so I have created a Satie store at Zazzle - and another one at Cafepress.

Albeniz on Amazon.ca (Canada)

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:17:26 GMT

Books, CDs, DVDs on Albeniz at Amazon.ca

Aimez-vous Brahms? Gifts for Brahms lovers

Sun, 10 May 2009 21:47:22 GMT

This week (May 7)is the birthday of Johannes Brahms, so I have created a Brahms store at Zazzle.
Zazzle is a great service and I will be gradually be adding all my composers.

Khachaturian giftware at Zazzle

Mon, 04 May 2009 20:14:05 GMT

This week is he anniversary of the death of Khachaturian as well as Dvorak(May 1), so I have created a Khachaturian giftware store at Zazzle. Hope you like it.

Dvorak giftware at Zazzle

Sat, 02 May 2009 21:17:03 GMT

This week is he anniversary of the death of Dvorak (May 1), so I have created a Dvorak giftware store at Zazzle. Hope you like it.

SIBELIUS the latest addition

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:40:42 GMT

The great Finnish composer.

TCHAIKOVSKY added

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:03:03 GMT

The great 19th century Russian composer.

Probably the most popular classical composer of all time.

New page for Maurice RAVEL

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:23:02 GMT

The great French composer, best known for his 'Bolero'

His royalties are higher than any other French composer.

Sergei Prokofiev added

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:47:02 GMT

The great Russian composer, best known for 'Peter and the Wolf'

He died on the same day as Joseph Stalin.

New Mozart page

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:03:48 GMT

The incredible Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
What a phenomenon!
He did so much in such a short life.

Claudio Monteverdi added

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:41:14 GMT

My new portrait of the amazing 16th/17th century Italian composer.

One of the most inflential composers in the history of music.

Handel's 250th anniversary

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:23:00 GMT

This year is the 250th anniversry of his death, so here is my tribute portrait.

He was German born but later became a British subject.