One of the greatest pianists of all time, and one of the most popular and most performed composers of the 20th century, it's small wonder that Sergei Rachmaninoff struggled to balance his life as a performer & as a composer.
Composers
Osvaldo Golijov
East meets West meets Latin America. Golijov draws from his Argentinean/Jewish heritage to create euphoric, vibrant, pulsating works.
Dmitri Shostakovich
Grandiose orchestrations and epic soundscapes. No appraisal of 20th century classical music is complete without the Russian powerhouse that is Dmitri Shostakovich.
Aaron Copland
A legend and lynchpin of 20th century classical music, Aaron Copland's name is synonymous with America and epic, sublime soundscapes.
John Adams
Master of minimalism and a universally esteemed super-hero of contemporary opera. This award-winning composer's works range from the sublimely tender to the expansive.
Leonard Bernstein
Bernstein's music combines jazz-inspired energy, theatrical panache and classical mastery to devastating effect.
Benjamin Britten
A British institution and one of the most widely performed 20th Century composers who produced works for every genre from epic symphonic scores to songs and choral works.
Karl Jenkins
Composer of the million-selling album Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary, the music of Karl Jenkins OBE is amongst the best-known in the world.
Elena Kats-Chernin
One of Australia's leading composers, Elena Kats-Chernin's output includes ballets, orchestra works and solo pieces which all encompass her enigmatic but accessible style.
Serge Prokofieff
From Peter and The Wolf to Romeo and Juliet, Prokofieff crafted some of the most powerful themes of 20th century classical music.
Sergei Rachmaninoff
"My music is the product of my temperament, and so it is Russian music." - Sergei Rachmaninoff
Show spotlight
Steve Reich
Steve Reich's influence can be felt across the sharpest edges of contemporary music, with both the Aphex Twin and Radiohead amongst his devotees.
Igor Stravinsky
Progressive, prolific and a defining composer in the history of the classical cannon. Stravinsky pushed the boundaries of traditional classical composition further than ever before.
