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Bohuslav Martinu (1890 – 1959) was a Czech composer who wrote a large body of orchestral, chamber, vocal and instrumental work that included 6 symphonies, 15 operas and 14 ballets. Formally a violinist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and music teacher, Martinu emigrated to the United States in 1941, where he was hugely successful, and eventually settled in Switzerland. Get information about Bohuslav Martinu

Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843 – 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. Described as a nationalist composer inspired by Norwegian folk music and dances. Grieg is best known for his ‘Piano Concerto in A minor’ and his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play ‘Peer Gynt’, which includes ‘Morning Mood’ and ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’. His many short pieces for piano have led some to call him the Chopin of the north. His works appear on 'Concerto TV'. Get information about Edvard Grieg

Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author and pianist. He is one of the most influential figures in the history of American classical music composing 'West Side Story' amongst others. a Bernstein was on of the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive world-wide acclaim. He is perhaps best known for his compositions, including 'West Side Story', 'Candide' and 'On the Town'. He is one of the most influential figures in the history of American classical music, championing the works of American composers and inspiring the careers of a generation of American musicians. 'Concerto TV' features arrangements of his works. Read more about Leonardo Bernstein

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 – 1958) was an English composer. He composed music notable for its power, nobility & expressiveness often described as the essence of 'Englishness'. Williams spanned musical genres included nine symphonies, five operas, film, ballet & choral works. His most famous compositions are 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis' and 'The Lark Ascending', regularly voted the nation's favourite classical piece in the United Kingdom. His eseential works feature on Concerto TV. Get information about Vaughan Williams

Gabriel Urbain Faure (1845 – 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist, & teacher. Often described as the most important French composer of his generation his most famous work is Faure's 'Requiem in D Minor Opus 48.' Gabriel's harmonic & melodic language work greatly influenced many subsequent 20th century composers. His most important works are his French songs, chamber music & piano music. His 'Requiem in D Minor Opus 48' has been used in numerous films and television series and also features prominently on 'Concerto TV'. Get information about Gabriel Faure

Johann Strauss II / Strauss Junior (1825 – 1899) was an Austrian composer famous for having written over 500 waltzes, polkas and marches including 'The Blue Danube'. His father was Johann Strauss I, best known composing the 'Razetsky March'. Strauss was known in his lifetime as ‘The Waltz King’ as he raised the popularity of the waltz in Vienna and produced some enduring pieces of music such as ‘The Blue Danube’, ‘Wein, Weib und Gesang’ and ‘Tales from the Vienna Woods’. Compositions by both Strausses feature on 'Concerto TV'. Get information about Johann Strauss II

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 – 1908) was a Russian composer famed in Russia for his operas. He was a master of orchestration and is best-known for the 'Flight of the Bumblebee' from 'Tsar Saltan'. Taking inspiration from folk stories & fairy tales, Nikolai's scores are not as well-known in the West, but many excerpts are familiar to Western audiences including 'The Dance of the Tumblers' from 'Snowmaiden', 'Procession of the Nobles' from 'Mlada' & orchestral compositions 'Capriccio Espagnol', the 'Russian Easter Festival Overture' and 'Scheherazade'. Read more about Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Georges Bizet (1838 – 1875) was a French composer and pianist of the romantic era. 'Carmen' (1875) is Bizet's best-known work and composed the title role for a mezzo-soprano. 'Carmen' (1875) is Bizet's best-known work and composed the title role for a mezzo-soprano. 'Carmen' was not initially well-received but praise for it eventually came from well-known contemporaries Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saens and Peter Illych. The aria 'Habernera' is now an opera standard. Read more about Georges Bizet

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) was a prolific German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He composed sacred works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments. Since the 19th-century Bach revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. Bach's most famous works include the 'Brandenburg Concertos', the 'Goldberg Variations', the 'French and English Suites', the 'Mass in B Minor', 'The Art of Fugue', the 'Sonatas and Partitas' for violin solo and the 'Cello Suites'. Perhaps his best known piece is the 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor'. 'Bach's music features three times—more than that of any other composer—on the Voyager Golden Record, a gramophone record containing a broad sample of the images, common sounds, languages, and music of Earth, sent into outer space with the two Voyager probes.' OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY More information about JS Bach

Henry Mancini (1924 – 1994) was an Academy Award winning American composer, conductor and arranger. He is best-known for 'The Pink Panther Theme' & 'Moon River' from the Audrey Hepburn classic film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961). Henry Mancini's film and television scores won him a record number of Grammy awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. It's sometimes hard to believe that the 'Pink Panther Theme' and 'Moon River' were written by the same hand but both are immediately recognisable and share similar iconic status. 'Concerto TV' salutes this great talent of the silver screen. Get information about Henry Mancini

Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) was an Italian violinist, guitarist and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. Niccolo Paganini is best known for his 'Caprice in A Minor' (Op. 1 No. 24) and he served as an inspiration for other prominent composers from Johannes Brahms to Sergei Rachmaninoff and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The French composer Hector Berlioz described Paganini as 'A blazing comet!' Several of his musical compositions feature on 'Concerto TV'. Get information about Niccolo Paganini

Nino Rota (1911 – 1979) was an Italian composer best known for his work on film scores such 'The Godfather' trilogy. Nino Rota scored films such as Federico Fellini's 'Romeo & Juliet' & The Godfather trilogy. Rota also composed ten operas, five ballets and many other orchestral and choral works, the most famous being his string concerto. 'Concerto TV' features artist performances of his works. Get updates & news from Nino Rota