The great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)

 

Barenboim or Kogan? Kissin or Jansen? It is difficult for inquiring minds to tackle a field as large and diverse as classical music, covering 10 centuries of history: there are uncountable numbers of classical music performers in the world. Making a selection of musicians, such as a “top 10” for example, is a difficult and subjective exercise. A musical selection is often the expression of personal preferences or artistic opinions, very interesting but also very different according to critics or musicologists, or simply influenced by the context: will an English performer/musician not be instinctively privileged by an English critic?

For example: in Canada, Marc-André Hamelin, a Quebec pianist and composer, is at least as popular as the German violinist Anne-Sofie Mutter, who is more internationally renowned.

Timeline of classical musicians, between 1950 and 2000+

Whoever wants to discover classical music does not always have an experienced music lover, an expert or an educator at his or her side to support and guide him or her in this field. So : Barenboim (Israeli Argentine-born pianist and conductor) or Kogan (Soviet musician) ? Gilels (Soviet pianist) or Haitink (Dutch conductor and violinist) ? However, the knowledge available about musicians is enormous. It was processed to select the 10, 25, 50... most popular performers around the world, for those living or having lived between 1950 and 2000+. And this objectively, and for the first time (soClassiQ exclusivity).

Performers rendered as a timeline to bring a little perspective:

193019301940194019501950196019601970197019801980199019902000200020102010

.

<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Samuel </span>BarberSamuel Barber 19101981
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Pau </span>CasalsPau Casals 18761973
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Sergei </span>ProkofievSergei Prokofiev 18911953<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Andrea </span>BocelliAndrea Bocelli 1958
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Sviatoslav </span>RichterSviatoslav Richter 19151997
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Glenn </span>GouldGlenn Gould 19321982
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Mstislav </span>RostropovichMstislav Rostropovich 19272007
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Itzhak </span>PerlmanItzhak Perlman 1945
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Theodor W. </span>AdornoTheodor W. Adorno 19031969<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Hilary </span>HahnHilary Hahn 1979
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Vladimir </span>HorowitzVladimir Horowitz 19031989
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">James </span>HornerJames Horner 19532015<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Arturo </span>ToscaniniArturo Toscanini 18671957
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Maria </span>CallasMaria Callas 19231977
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Ennio </span>MorriconeEnnio Morricone 19282020
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Witold </span>LutosławskiWitold Lutosławski 19131994
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Martha </span>ArgerichMartha Argerich 1941
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Jean </span>SibeliusJean Sibelius 18651957<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Gustavo </span>DudamelGustavo Dudamel 1981
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Jerry </span>GoldsmithJerry Goldsmith 19292004
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Dmitri </span>ShostakovichDmitri Shostakovich 19061975<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Khatia </span>BuniatishviliKhatia Buniatishvili 1987
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Igor </span>StravinskyIgor Stravinsky 18821971<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1"> </span>Lang Lang 1982
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Benjamin </span>BrittenBenjamin Britten 19131976
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Arnold </span>SchoenbergArnold Schoenberg 18741951<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Hans </span>ZimmerHans Zimmer 1957
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Arthur </span>RubinsteinArthur Rubinstein 18871982
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Kurt </span>WeillKurt Weill 19001950<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Evgeny </span>KissinEvgeny Kissin 1971
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Krzysztof </span>PendereckiKrzysztof Penderecki 19332020
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Arvo </span>PärtArvo Pärt 1935
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Claudio </span>AbbadoClaudio Abbado 19332014
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Aram </span>KhachaturianAram Khachaturian 19031978
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Leonard </span>BernsteinLeonard Bernstein 19181990
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Fritz </span>KreislerFritz Kreisler 18751962<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Valentina </span>LisitsaValentina Lisitsa 1973
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">Jacqueline du </span>PréJacqueline du Pré 19451987
<span class="d-none d-md-inline-block text-muted mr-1">John </span>WilliamsJohn Williams 1932
<

ComposersConductorsLyrical singersPerformersReduce to performers only WorldwideEuropeNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAsiaOceaniaAfrica 2021

This timeline is interactive to navigate through the ages or across continents (with ).

Top 10 classical musicians for the years 1950-2000+

Who are these greatest performers, the most famous over the 1950-2000+ era? The carreer of these musician has marked the history of classical music. There are those you probably know, or at least by name and the others.

Here are these 10 performers, renowned artists from around the world:

10

The musicians and artists who also composed were removed from this ranking.

The selections of musicians (performers) proposed by soClassiQ are based exclusively on algorithms. The same applies to the composers, their works, the lyrical singers, les orchestras, the conductors and the venues : opera houses, concert halls or festivals.

What about the others? 25, 50 or more?

Summarizing to 10 musician names such a wide and diverse field may seem extreme or too simplistic for those who know classical music well, for those who can easily name 50 or more classical music performers. Arrau, Oistrakh, Callas, Lisitsa, Heifetz, Pré, Mutter...

At this time, soClassiQ has listed more than 11000 performers. So here is a selection of some performers for the years 1950-2000+, widely recognized around the world:

A

Claudio <strong>Abbado</strong> Claudio AbbadoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1933-2014 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Salvatore <strong>Accardo</strong> Salvatore AccardoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

John Coolidge <strong>Adams</strong> John Coolidge AdamsThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 73 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Theodor W. <strong>Adorno</strong> Theodor W. AdornoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1903-1969 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Géza <strong>Anda</strong> Géza AndaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1921-1976 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Marian <strong>Anderson</strong> Marian AndersonThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1897-1993 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Martha <strong>Argerich</strong> Martha ArgerichThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 79 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Claudio <strong>Arrau</strong> Claudio ArrauThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1903-1991 (20th century)
Performer

Vladimir <strong>Ashkenazy</strong> Vladimir AshkenazyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 83 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

B

Grażyna <strong>Bacewicz</strong> Grażyna BacewiczThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1909-1969 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Samuel <strong>Barber</strong> Samuel BarberThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1910-1981 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Daniel <strong>Barenboim</strong> Daniel BarenboimThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 77 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

John <strong>Barry</strong> John BarryThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1933-2011 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Rudolf <strong>Barshai</strong> Rudolf BarshaiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1924-2010 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Yury <strong>Bashmet</strong> Yury BashmetThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 67 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Joshua <strong>Bell</strong> Joshua BellThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 52 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Luciano <strong>Berio</strong> Luciano BerioThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1925-2003 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Leonard <strong>Bernstein</strong> Leonard BernsteinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1918-1990 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

İdil <strong>Biret</strong> İdil BiretThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 78 (20th century)
Performer

Andrea <strong>Bocelli</strong> Andrea BocelliThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 62 (20th century)
Composer, Lyrical singer & Performer

Victor <strong>Borge</strong> Victor BorgeThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1909-2000 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Nadia <strong>Boulanger</strong> Nadia BoulangerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1887-1979 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Pierre <strong>Boulez</strong> Pierre BoulezThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1925-2016 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Julian <strong>Bream</strong> Julian BreamThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1933-2020 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Benjamin <strong>Britten</strong> Benjamin BrittenThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1913-1976 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Vincent BuenoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 34 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Khatia <strong>Buniatishvili</strong> Khatia BuniatishviliThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 33 (20th century)
Performer

C

John <strong>Cage</strong> John CageThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1912-1992 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Maria <strong>Callas</strong> Maria CallasThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1923-1977 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Pau <strong>Casals</strong> Pau CasalsThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1876-1973 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Sarah <strong>Chang</strong> Sarah ChangThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 39 (20th century)
Performer

Boris <strong>Christoff</strong> Boris ChristoffThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1914-1993 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Francesco <strong>Cilea</strong> Francesco CileaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1866-1950 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Van <strong>Cliburn</strong> Van CliburnThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1934-2013 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Aaron <strong>Copland</strong> Aaron CoplandThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1900-1990 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Alfred <strong>Cortot</strong> Alfred CortotThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1877-1962 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Henry <strong>Cowell</strong> Henry CowellThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1897-1965 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Georges <strong>Cziffra</strong> Georges CziffraThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1921-1994 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

D

Luigi <strong>Dallapiccola</strong> Luigi DallapiccolaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1904-1975 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Peter Maxwell <strong>Davies</strong> Peter Maxwell DaviesThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1934-2016 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Ernő von <strong>Dohnányi</strong> Ernő von DohnányiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1877-1960 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Gustavo <strong>Dudamel</strong> Gustavo DudamelThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 39 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Tan <strong>Dun</strong> Tan DunThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 63 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Marcel <strong>Dupré</strong> Marcel DupréThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1886-1971 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Maurice <strong>Duruflé</strong> Maurice DurufléThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1902-1986 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

E

Danny <strong>Elfman</strong> Danny ElfmanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 67 (20th century)
Composer, Lyrical singer & Performer

George <strong>Enescu</strong> George EnescuThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1881-1955 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Malena <strong>Ernman</strong> Malena ErnmanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 49 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

F

Morton <strong>Feldman</strong> Morton FeldmanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1926-1987 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Julia <strong>Fischer</strong> Julia FischerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 37 (20th century)
Performer

Dietrich <strong>Fischer-Dieskau</strong> Dietrich Fischer-DieskauThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1925-2012 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor, Lyrical singer & Performer

Renée <strong>Fleming</strong> Renée FlemingThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 61 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Wilhelm <strong>Furtwängler</strong> Wilhelm FurtwänglerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1886-1954 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

G

John Eliot <strong>Gardiner</strong> John Eliot GardinerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 77 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Aida <strong>Garifullina</strong> Aida GarifullinaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 33 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Michael <strong>Giacchino</strong> Michael GiacchinoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 52 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Emil <strong>Gilels</strong> Emil GilelsThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1916-1985 (20th century)
Performer

Philip <strong>Glass</strong> Philip GlassThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 83 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Jerry <strong>Goldsmith</strong> Jerry GoldsmithThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1929-2004 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Henryk <strong>Gorecki</strong> Henryk GoreckiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1933-2010 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Glenn <strong>Gould</strong> Glenn GouldThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1932-1982 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Percy <strong>Grainger</strong> Percy GraingerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1882-1961 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Sofia <strong>Gubaidulina</strong> Sofia GubaidulinaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 88 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

H

Ida <strong>Haendel</strong> Ida HaendelThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1928-2020 (20th century)
Performer

Hilary <strong>Hahn</strong> Hilary HahnThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 40 (20th century)
Performer

Bernard <strong>Haitink</strong> Bernard HaitinkThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 91 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Marc-André <strong>Hamelin</strong> Marc-André HamelinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 59 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Nikolaus <strong>Harnoncourt</strong> Nikolaus HarnoncourtThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1929-2016 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Clara <strong>Haskil</strong> Clara HaskilThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1895-1960 (20th century)
Performer

Jascha <strong>Heifetz</strong> Jascha HeifetzThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1901-1987 (20th century)
Performer

Paul <strong>Hindemith</strong> Paul HindemithThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1895-1963 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Joe <strong>Hisaishi</strong> Joe HisaishiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 69 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor, Lyrical singer & Performer

James <strong>Horner</strong> James HornerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1953-2015 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Vladimir <strong>Horowitz</strong> Vladimir HorowitzThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1903-1989 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

James Newton <strong>Howard</strong> James Newton HowardThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 69 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

I

Jacques <strong>Ibert</strong> Jacques IbertThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1890-1962 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Charles <strong>Ives</strong> Charles IvesThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1874-1954 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

J

Ermonela <strong>Jaho</strong> Ermonela JahoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 46 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Janine <strong>Jansen</strong> Janine JansenThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 42 (20th century)
Performer

Philippe <strong>Jaroussky</strong> Philippe JarousskyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 42 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Paavo <strong>Järvi</strong> Paavo JärviThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 57 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

K

Dmitri <strong>Kabalevsky</strong> Dmitri KabalevskyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1904-1986 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Kiri Te <strong>Kanawa</strong> Kiri Te KanawaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 76 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Jonas <strong>Kaufmann</strong> Jonas KaufmannThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 51 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Rudolf <strong>Kempe</strong> Rudolf KempeThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1910-1976 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Aram <strong>Khachaturian</strong> Aram KhachaturianThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1903-1978 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Wojciech <strong>Kilar</strong> Wojciech KilarThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1932-2013 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Evgeny <strong>Kissin</strong> Evgeny KissinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 48 (20th century)
Performer

Zoltán <strong>Kodály</strong> Zoltán KodályThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1882-1967 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Leonid <strong>Kogan</strong> Leonid KoganThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1924-1982 (20th century)
Performer

Erich Wolfgang <strong>Korngold</strong> Erich Wolfgang KorngoldThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1897-1957 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Jason <strong>Kouchak</strong> Jason KouchakThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 51 (20th century)
Composer, Lyrical singer & Performer

Fritz <strong>Kreisler</strong> Fritz KreislerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1875-1962 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Gidon <strong>Kremer</strong> Gidon KremerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 73 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Rafael <strong>Kubelík</strong> Rafael KubelíkThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1914-1996 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

György <strong>Kurtág</strong> György KurtágThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 94 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

L

Wanda <strong>Landowska</strong> Wanda LandowskaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1879-1959 (20th century)
Performer

<strong>Lang</strong> <strong>Lang</strong> Lang LangThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 38 (20th century)
Performer

Mario <strong>Lanza</strong> Mario LanzaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1921-1959 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Alicia de <strong>Larrocha</strong> Alicia de LarrochaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1923-2009 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

... L

Giorgi <strong>Latsabidze</strong> Giorgi LatsabidzeThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 42 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Gustav <strong>Leonhardt</strong> Gustav LeonhardtThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1928-2012 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

James <strong>Levine</strong> James LevineThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 77 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Yundi <strong>Li</strong> Yundi LiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 37 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

György <strong>Ligeti</strong> György LigetiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1923-2006 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Dinu <strong>Lipatti</strong> Dinu LipattiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1917-1950 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Valentina <strong>Lisitsa</strong> Valentina LisitsaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 46 (20th century)
Performer

Leonardo De de <strong>Lorenzo</strong> Leonardo De de LorenzoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1875-1962 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Victoria de <strong>los Ángeles</strong> Victoria de los ÁngelesThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1923-2005 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Paco de <strong>Lucía</strong> Paco de LucíaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1947-2014 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Christa <strong>Ludwig</strong> Christa LudwigThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 92 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Witold <strong>Lutosławski</strong> Witold LutosławskiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1913-1994 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

M

Yo-Yo <strong>Ma</strong> Yo-Yo MaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 64 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Lorin <strong>Maazel</strong> Lorin MaazelThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1930-2014 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Peter <strong>Machajdík</strong> Peter MachajdíkThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 59 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Mischa <strong>Maisky</strong> Mischa MaiskyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 72 (20th century)
Performer

Henry <strong>Mancini</strong> Henry ManciniThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1924-1994 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Clint <strong>Mansell</strong> Clint MansellThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 57 (20th century)
Composer, Lyrical singer & Performer

Neville <strong>Marriner</strong> Neville MarrinerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1924-2016 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Bohuslav <strong>Martinů</strong> Bohuslav MartinůThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1890-1959 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Yehudi <strong>Menuhin</strong> Yehudi MenuhinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1916-1999 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Olivier <strong>Messiaen</strong> Olivier MessiaenThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1908-1992 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Arturo Benedetti <strong>Michelangeli</strong> Arturo Benedetti MichelangeliThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1920-1995 (20th century)
Performer

Darius <strong>Milhaud</strong> Darius MilhaudThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1892-1974 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Nathan <strong>Milstein</strong> Nathan MilsteinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1902-1992 (20th century)
Performer

Dimitri <strong>Mitropoulos</strong> Dimitri MitropoulosThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1896-1960 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Ennio <strong>Morricone</strong> Ennio MorriconeThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1928-2020 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Maksim <strong>Mrvica</strong> Maksim MrvicaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 45 (20th century)
Performer

Riccardo <strong>Muti</strong> Riccardo MutiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 80 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Anne-Sophie <strong>Mutter</strong> Anne-Sophie MutterThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 57 (20th century)
Performer

N

Heinrich <strong>Neuhaus</strong> Heinrich NeuhausThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1888-1964 (20th century)
Performer

Michael <strong>Nyman</strong> Michael NymanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 76 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

O

David <strong>Oistrakh</strong> David OistrakhThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1908-1974 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Carl <strong>Orff</strong> Carl OrffThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1895-1982 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Eugene <strong>Ormandy</strong> Eugene OrmandyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1899-1985 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

P

Andrzej <strong>Panufnik</strong> Andrzej PanufnikThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1914-1991 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Arvo <strong>Pärt</strong> Arvo PärtThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 85 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Krzysztof <strong>Penderecki</strong> Krzysztof PendereckiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1933-2020 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Murray <strong>Perahia</strong> Murray PerahiaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 73 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Itzhak <strong>Perlman</strong> Itzhak PerlmanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 75 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Gregor <strong>Piatigorsky</strong> Gregor PiatigorskyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1903-1976 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Astor <strong>Piazzolla</strong> Astor PiazzollaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1921-1992 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Maria João <strong>Pires</strong> Maria João PiresThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 76 (20th century)
Performer

Ivo <strong>Pogorelić</strong> Ivo PogorelićThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 61 (20th century)
Performer

Maurizio <strong>Pollini</strong> Maurizio PolliniThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 78 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Francis <strong>Poulenc</strong> Francis PoulencThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1899-1963 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Jacqueline du <strong>Pré</strong> Jacqueline du PréThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1945-1987 (20th century)
Performer

Zbigniew <strong>Preisner</strong> Zbigniew PreisnerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 65 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

André <strong>Previn</strong> André PrevinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1929-2019 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Sergei <strong>Prokofiev</strong> Sergei ProkofievThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1891-1953 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

R

Jean-Pierre <strong>Rampal</strong> Jean-Pierre RampalThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1922-2000 (20th century)
Performer

Simon <strong>Rattle</strong> Simon RattleThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 65 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Ivan <strong>Rebroff</strong> Ivan RebroffThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1931-2008 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Performer

Karl <strong>Richter</strong> Karl RichterThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1926-1981 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Sviatoslav <strong>Richter</strong> Sviatoslav RichterThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1915-1997 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

André <strong>Rieu</strong> André RieuThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 71 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Clara <strong>Rockmore</strong> Clara RockmoreThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1911-1998 (20th century)
Performer

Joaquín <strong>Rodrigo</strong> Joaquín RodrigoThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1901-1999 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Mstislav <strong>Rostropovich</strong> Mstislav RostropovichThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1927-2007 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Nino <strong>Rota</strong> Nino RotaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1911-1979 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Gennady <strong>Rozhdestvensky</strong> Gennady RozhdestvenskyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1931-2018 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Miklós <strong>Rózsa</strong> Miklós RózsaThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1907-1995 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Arthur <strong>Rubinstein</strong> Arthur RubinsteinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1887-1982 (20th century)
Performer

S

Jordi <strong>Savall</strong> Jordi SavallThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 79 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Wolfgang <strong>Sawallisch</strong> Wolfgang SawallischThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1923-2013 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Fazıl <strong>Say</strong> Fazıl SayThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 50 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

András <strong>Schiff</strong> András SchiffThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 66 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Artur <strong>Schnabel</strong> Artur SchnabelThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1882-1951 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Alfred <strong>Schnittke</strong> Alfred SchnittkeThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1934-1998 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Arnold <strong>Schoenberg</strong> Arnold SchoenbergThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1874-1951 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Rudolf <strong>Serkin</strong> Rudolf SerkinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1903-1991 (20th century)
Performer

Rodion <strong>Shchedrin</strong> Rodion ShchedrinThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 87 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Howard <strong>Shore</strong> Howard ShoreThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 73 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Dmitri <strong>Shostakovich</strong> Dmitri ShostakovichThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1906-1975 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Jean <strong>Sibelius</strong> Jean SibeliusThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1865-1957 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Georg <strong>Solti</strong> Georg SoltiThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1912-1997 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Isaac <strong>Stern</strong> Isaac SternThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1920-2001 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Karlheinz <strong>Stockhausen</strong> Karlheinz StockhausenThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1925-2007 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Igor <strong>Stravinsky</strong> Igor StravinskyThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1882-1971 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Yevgeny <strong>Svetlanov</strong> Yevgeny SvetlanovThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1928-2002 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Georgy <strong>Sviridov</strong> Georgy SviridovThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1915-1998 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

George <strong>Szell</strong> George SzellThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1897-1970 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Henryk <strong>Szeryng</strong> Henryk SzeryngThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1918-1988 (20th century)
Performer

Władysław <strong>Szpilman</strong> Władysław SzpilmanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1911-2000 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

T

Andrés Segovia <strong>Torres</strong> Andrés Segovia TorresThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1893-1987 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Arturo <strong>Toscanini</strong> Arturo ToscaniniThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1867-1957 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

V

Vanessa <strong>Vanessa-Mae</strong> Vanessa Vanessa-MaeThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 41 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Heitor <strong>Villa-Lobos</strong> Heitor Villa-LobosThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1887-1959 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

W

Bruno <strong>Walter</strong> Bruno WalterThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1876-1962 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

William <strong>Walton</strong> William WaltonThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1902-1983 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Andrew Lloyd <strong>Webber</strong> Andrew Lloyd WebberThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 72 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Kurt <strong>Weill</strong> Kurt WeillThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1900-1950 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

John <strong>Williams</strong> John WilliamsThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 79 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Ralph Vaughan <strong>Williams</strong> Ralph Vaughan WilliamsThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1872-1958 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

John <strong>Williams</strong> John WilliamsThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 88 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

X

Iannis <strong>Xenakis</strong> Iannis XenakisThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1922-2001 (20th century)
Composer & Performer
MasterpiecesComplete works

Y

Narciso <strong>Yepes</strong> Narciso YepesThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
1927-1997 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Z

Krystian <strong>Zimerman</strong> Krystian ZimermanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 63 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Performer

Hans <strong>Zimmer</strong> Hans ZimmerThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 63 (20th century)
Composer & Performer

Pinchas <strong>Zukerman</strong> Pinchas ZukermanThe great 20th-century performers (1950-2000)
age 72 (20th century)
Conductor & Performer

Some performers to be celebrated very soon

Next month, more than 40 important artists and musicians will be honoured. In November 2020 some of them may celebrate a special anniversary. For others, amateurs and enthusiasts will celebrate the bicentenary of their birth or the fiftieth anniversary of their death for example. Among them, some famous performers:

on 4, Malena Ernman (1970- ), 50th anniversary,
on 19, Maria Yudina (1899-1970), 50th anniversary (Death),
on 21, Hŭi-ho Kim (1920-2001), 100th anniversary (Birth),
on 26, Nathan Gunn (1970- ), 50th anniversary,
...

There are others to discover. And it is not too late to focus on the October 2020 celebrations (30+).

Always good opportunities to discover or deepen, (re)listen, explore the vastness and diversity of classical music...

See also...

Timelines : Performers

Indexes

Other timelines

Commemorations 2020, 2021, ...

Last update : 2020-10-01

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