Ferruccio Busoni
1866 - 1924
Ferruccio Busoni was a German composer and pianist born in Italy. At the age of 7 he made his first public appearance and at 12 he conducted his own Stabat Mater.
He taught in Helsinki, Moscow and Boston before settling permanently in Berlin in 1894. He became famous as a virtuoso pianist and gave world premieres of works by important composers.
His most famous work during his lifetime, the opera Die Brautwahl (1910), was followed by the operas Arlecchino (1916) and Turandot (1917), but the unfinished and posthumously staged Doctor Faust is considered his masterpiece.
Of his orchestral works, his Piano Concerto (1904) is the most frequently performed. His numerous piano pieces include the Fantasia contrappuntistica (1910), six sonatinas (1910-20) and arrangements of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Erik Satie
1866 - 1925
Johann Baptist Strauss I.
Senior
1804 – 1849
Johann Strauss I (senior) was a 19th century Austrian composer, one of the leading conductors of Viennese light music and the father of Johann II, Josef and Eduard Strauss, all of whom followed in his footsteps.
Working with Joseph Lanner, Strauss began his teenage career and began composing dance music after starting his own orchestra.
In the 1830s and 40s, Strauss toured with his ensemble, performed across Europe and traveled to England.
Strauss never achieved the enduring fame of his eldest son, although many of his waltzes, quadrilles and polkas are still played.