Composers from Central Europe

Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809) He was a friend and mentor of Mozart, a tutor of Beethoven.

Haydn playlist

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) Born in Salzburg, lived later in Vienna. Died at 35.

Mozart playlist

Mozart - Piano Concerto No.21 "Elvira Madigan" - 2nd Movement - Andante

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Born in Bonn,  lived in Vienna from 21.

Beethoven playlist

 

Beethoven Sonata # 14 "Moonlight" Op. 27 No. 2

Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828) Born in Vienna. Died at 31.

Schubert playlist

 

Schubert Minuet in A major, D. 334

 Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886) Born in (then) Hungary. A performing star pianist. 

Liszt playlist

Franz Liszt - Love Dream (Liebestraum), S. 541 No. 3 

Johann Strauss II  (1825 – 1899) Born in Vienna. Big rivalry with his father. Famous for waltzes.

Strauss playlist

André Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra playing "The Beautiful Blue Danube" by composer Johann Strauss II. Recorded live at Empress Sisi's castle; Schönbrunn Palace Vienna, Austria 

Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897) Born in Hamburg, mostly lived in Vienna. He was a fan of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.

Brahms playlist

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G Minor

Antonín Dvořák (1841 – 1904) Born near Prague. Many of his compositions, such as the Slavonic Dances and his large collection of songs, were directly inspired by Czech, Moravian, and other Slavic traditional music.

Dvořák playlist

Dvořák: Serenade for Strings in E Major

Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911) Born in Bohemia, now part of Czechia. Worked in many places, including Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Married Alma Schindler, who later left him for Walter Gropius, and later still for Franz Werfel.

 Mahler playlist

 Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Adagietto)

Béla Bartók (1881 – 1945) Born in Hungary (now Romania). adapted Magyar folk music into his compositions. Emigrated to the U.S. in 1940.

Bartók playlist

Béla Bartók - Romanian Folk Dances for String Orchestra Sz.56