Name: Classical Destinations: The Great Composers (Series 1)
Uploaded: 2020
Description: The great cities and towns of Europe and the UK, form the backdrops for the stories of the world’s greatest classical composers.

The great cities and towns of Europe and the UK, form the backdrops for the stories of the world’s greatest classical composers.

Johann Sebastian Bach worked in many of the German states until he finally made his home in the ancient Saxon city of Leipzig. There he created some of the greatest music ever written, like the St Matthew Passion.

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Johann Sebastian Bach created some of the greatest music ever written, like the St Matthew Passion.

J. S. Bach

George Frideric Handel traveled much more widely after his birth in Halle in the Southern part of Saxony. As a young firebrand, he went to Italy where he created a sensation before settling in London for the last 40 years of his life.

George Frideric Handel went to Italy where he created a sensation before settling in London for the last 40 years of his life.

G. S. Handel

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Austria, in Salzburg. As a child prodigy, he was touted about the courts of Europe by his father, playing violin and piano in all the courts of Europe. The last ten years of his life were spent in the centre of the musical world, in Vienna, where he died.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent the last ten years of his life in the centre of the musical world, in Vienna, where he died, impoverished and unmourned.

W. A. Mozart

Ludwig van Beethoven spent most of his life in Vienna, though he was born in Bonn, then a small provincial town. Early deafness robbed him of a performing career, but his world-shattering achievements as a composer changed music forever.

Ludwig van Beethoven spent most of his life in Vienna, though he was born in Bonn. His world-shattering achievements as a composer changed music forever.

L. van Beethoven

Warsaw and Paris were the cities at the heart of Frédéric Chopin's world: he was one of the first great piano virtuosos, and his piano music helped usher in a new romantic spirit across all the arts.

Frédéric Chopin was one of the first great piano virtuosos, and his piano music helped usher in a new romantic spirit across all the arts.

F. Chopin

Edvard Grieg, who, like Chopin, wasn?t afraid to express a new sense of national identity in his art. Grieg?s music breathes the air of Norway, illustrating the northern nation?s landscape, climate, and folklore.

Grieg?s music breathes the air of Norway, illustrating the northern nation?s landscape, climate, and folklore.