tragic early deaths

[Rabin_Fan]

Well done Biber Fan for Pergolesi. We need some names who died below 20 years old.

[Gabriel]

I will add Hyacinthe Jadin (1776-1800), a very interesting composer in the French classicism. I've listened to some of his attractive keyboard sonatas and string quartets.

[Rabin_Fan]

Very good Gabriel - now we are getting very exotic names sub-30 years old. Thanks, R-F

[Papageno]

Leni Riefenstahl

[max]

Fortunately Schubert was already a genius...

Q

...and a considerable one whose late masses - among the greatest ever written are still ignored.

[Que]

...and a considerable one whose late masses - among the greatest ever written are still ignored.

It's surprising to see how much Schubert is underestimated as a composer. I personally have no hesitation in placing Schubert right next to Beethoven and Mozart.
I think the bias towards symphonic repertoire amongst many classical music lovers could have something to do with this. Which is not to say that Schubert wasn't a superb symphonist. He died when he was just 31, Beethoven published his first major symphonie (the 3rd) when he was older than that (33). Just compare Schubert's symphonies with Beethoven's first and second symphony....

I consider his and Mozart's premature death as the biggest losses ever.

BTW Indeed, Schubert's masses are superb!  (I have Bruno Weil myself).

Q

[max]

It's surprising to see how much Schubert is underestimated as a composer. I personally have no hesitation in placing Schubert right next to Beethoven and Mozart.
I think the bias towards symphonic repertoire amongst many classical music lovers could have something to do with this. Which is not to say that Schubert wasn't a superb symphonist. He died when he was just 31, Beethoven published his first major symphonie (the 3rd) when he was older than that (33). Just compare Schubert's symphonies with Beethoven's first and second symphony....

I consider his and Mozart's premature death as the biggest losses ever.

BTW Indeed, Schubert's masses are superb!  (I have Bruno Weil myself).

Q

I think Schubert could eventually have written operas at least as great as Fidelio and I base this on some of the truly glorious extracts of his so-called failed attempts. Also, when you consider that his Great C major symphony along with Beethoven's ninth served as the top template of Bruckner's sound world then his accomplishment becomes not only astounding but also prophetic!

But there's no denying it. Dying at the age of 31 is just too much of a limitation. Exploring the range of one's genius requires time especially if there is allot to explore. Even Mozart would have been nowhere near to the Mozart we know had HE died at the age of 31 and by inference, what he would have accomplished had he lived to 40.

[Gabriel]

Even Mozart would have been nowhere near to the Mozart we know had HE died at the age of 31 and by inference, what he would have accomplished had he lived to 40.

If he had died at the age of 31, he would have composed up to Don Giovanni or so (1787). So we would have had a long list of masterpieces that wouldn't change too much my perception of his genius. And if his style evolved towards the end of his life (you have to think about the last string quartets or Die Zauberflöte), I cannot say it is "better" or "more sophisticated". In my very personal opinion, the Mozart of 31 years old is very close to the Mozart of 35 years old.

This doesn't mean that, if either Mozart or Schubert had lived up to 40 years old, they wouldn't have improved their music. But that enters on the field of speculation.

[vandermolen]

Leni Riefenstahl

Lili Boulanger, yes,that was a great loss.

[Ten thumbs]

Luckily Purcell made it to 36.
We had a neighbour, an old lady in her eighties whose life was full of tragedies - for instance her brother died at eighty.

[Drasko]

Alexei Stanchinsky (26) 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexei_Stanchinsky

[loudav]

What, no love at all for Jehan Alain, the intriguing French composer of (primarily) organ music, who died on the front lines in WWII, at age 29? If you haven't heard his music, you should check it out.