Who were the most famous opera composers?

Answer 1

Obviously this will be a matter of opinion, but here goes:

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) wrote about 18 operas, but only three complete works survive. Many people recognize L'Orfeo(1607) as the first major Opera to bring together recitative, aria, choral and instrumental numbers in a dramatically effective work. The beautiful aria "Lasciatemi morire" that survives from his L'Arianna (1608) suggests that this opera was also a masterpiece.

Monteverdi's other two surviving operas, Il Ritorno d'Ulisse (Return of Ulysses) and L'Incoronazione di Poppea (Coronation of Poppea) were written in 1640 and 1642 respectively, toward the end of his life. By this time the Baroque style was more firmly established and opera was well on its way toward being the institution we know today, but Monteverdi was still on top of his game. These are really powerful works.

Another point of view might suggest Mozart, however, since his works are the earliest that have remained a part of the repertoire since their premieres. The change from Baroque to Classical opera styles was huge, both in the waning use of the male soprano voice and in the move away from stylized dramatic conventions. He could be called the first great modern opera composer.

A third answer might be Christoph Willibald Von Gluck, whose Orfeo ed Euridice is the earliest opera to hold a place in the standard international repertoire. It premiered in Vienna in 1762.

Answer 2

Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner, Bizet and Puccini. A few others wrote one (or at most) two magnificent operas, but were not essentially opera composers, and that's a large category. Joplin wrote a brilliant opera - but only one. Gershwin wrote a brilliant opera - but only one, Beethoven wrote a brilliant opera - but only one. You get the idea. The seven listed first were the heavy hitters.

Answer 3

Mozart is considered to be one of the best opera composers of all time.

Answer 4

Puccini was/is very popular.

Mozart was probably the greatest of the classical period. Puccini was late romantic, early 20th-century.

Answer 5

Verdi

Puccini

Biset

Handel

Mozart

Rossini

Wagner

Donizetti

Sullivan

It depends on what sort of opera you like.

Answer 6

Ludwig Van Beethovan

Answer 7

Mozart