There are very few composers that are lucky enough to have their work described using the adjectives ‘luxurious’, ‘mysterious’, and ‘exuberant’, yet Kaija Saariaho’s work more than amply fulfils this objective. She is one of the best-known living composers working in the field of both

Dramatic, Dreamy, Elegant, Experimental, Fantastic, Feminine, Pioneering, Playful

One of the first composers to meld the sounds of the Western and Eastern classical music traditions, Philip Glass is largely responsible for creating the Minimalist movement in music. His unique sound developed over a long span of time -- time in which Glass decided that he was not satisfied with Wes

Classical, Clean, Electronic, Mathematical, Minimalist music, New musical hybrids, Repetition

Shostakovich is often, in musical circles, called the greatest composer of the twentieth century. Yet the quality of his music is so uneven that, while a third of it is the brain-bombing work of a divine genius, another third is almost worthless, and another third scares young violinists into abandon

20th-century music, Catastrophe, Lyrical, Melancholy, Moody, Pathos, Visceral

Although he died at an early age, Gershwin created a body of work that was not merely extensive, but also enduring. His music is still frequently performed more than 50 years after his death. Gershwin absorbed all the musical developments coming from the jazz world, so it is not surprising that his w

20th-century music, Charming, Epic, Overflowing