Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "Before God, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me" the words of Joseph Haydn, on meeting Mozarts' father. During his relatively short life, the childlike and ebullient Mozart was a prolific composer who never surrendered his artistic freedom and he became the outstanding musical genius of his time.

Ludwig van Beethoven In 1787 the young Beethoven visited Mozart in Vienna. As he started to play Mozart was impressed: "watch this young man's progress", he said, "one day he will be the talk of the world". A complicated man, but a brilliant composer, Beethoven's lifestory was one of triumph over tragedy. In the face of considerable adversity, he became a musical legend in his own lifetime and was to have an enduring influence on future generations of composers.

Fryderyk Chopin was widely regarded as the leading piano virtuoso of his day, even in the company of contemporaries such as Moscheles and Liszt. Remarkably, however, because of his dislike of large audiences, Chopin gave only 30 public performances throughout his entire life. Despite a tormented lovelife and frequent bouts of illness, Chopin has left us with many beautiful and memorable compositions.

Franz Liszt "I wish I could steal his manner of playing my etudes" said Chopin, who had a calming influence on Liszt, the nervous, extraordinary virtuoso and composer. A passionate lover, Liszt 'possessed' his female audiences with his inspired playing and scintillating performances. The mass hysteria around him was called 'Lisztomania' and his remarkable career exemplifies the romantic era.