Franz Schubert

Born on January 31, 1797, in Himmelpfortgrund, Austria, Franz Peter Schubert, the son of a
schoolmaster, received a thorough musical education and won a scholarship to boarding school.
Although he was never rich, the composer's work gained recognition and popularity, noted for
bridging classical and romantic composition. He died in 1828 in Vienna, Austria.

1. "Hosanna filio David"

2. "In monte Oliveti"
3. "Sanctus"
4. "Pueri Hebraeorum"
5. "Cum angelis et pueris"
6. "Ingrediente Domino"

Giacomo Puccini

Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, born on December 22, 1858, started the operatic
trend toward realism with his popular works, which are among the most often
performed in opera history. But the fame and fortune that came with such successes
as La Bohme, Madama Butterfly and Tosca were complicated by an often-troubled
personal life. Puccini died of post-operative shock on November 29, 1924.

Richard Wagner

Born in Germany on May 22, 1813, Richard Wagner went on to become one of the
world's most influentialand controversialcomposers. He is famous for both his
epic operas, including the four-part, 18-hour Ring Cycle, as well as for his anti-
semitic writings, which, posthumously, made him a favorite of Adolf Hitler. There is
evidence that Wagner's music was played at the Dachau concentration camp to "re-
educate" the prisoners. Wagner had a tumultuous love life, which involved several
scandalous affairs. He died of a heart attack in Venice on February 13, 1883.

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi was born in Italy in 1813, prior to Italian unification. Verdi produced
many successful operas, including La Traviata, Falstaf and Aida, and became
known for his skill in creating melody and his profound use of theatrical effect.
Additionally, his rejection of the traditional Italian opera for integrated scenes and
unified acts earned him fame. Verdi died on January 27, 1901, in Milan, Italy. was
born in Italy in 1813, prior to Italian unification. Verdi produced many successful
operas, including La Traviata, Falstaf and Aida, and became known for his skill in
creating melody and his profound use of theatrical effect. Additionally, his rejection
of the traditional Italian opera for integrated scenes and unified acts earned him
fame. Verdi died on January 27, 1901, in Milan, Italy.

Georges Bizet
French composer Georges Bizet is best known for the realistic opera Carmen, a work
that established itself as the model of opra comique. He was motivated by the
need to bring realism to French opera he considered frivolous. Though his work is
associated with opera comique, it is more serious than the vast majority of that
category.