Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971)

With a death date of fewer than 50 years, Igor Stravinsky is the most recent composer on this list of the greatest classical composers of all time.

Stravinsky, often recognized as the most influential composer of the twentieth century, was a rebel who pushed limits and changed his approach throughout his career. Russian (1907– 1919), neoclassical (1920– 1954), and serial (1954– 1968) are the three periods in which his music can be divided.

His flexibility was further demonstrated by the fact that he could compose in almost any genre. His ballets, the most famous of which is The Rite of Spring, are what he is best known for. Due to its bold technical innovation and controversial choreography, it is thought to have created a riot when it premiered in Paris in 1913.

However, it had a more positive long-term influence. Karlheinz Stockhausen and Steve Reich are two examples of composers who were influenced by the piece's crunching harmonics, irregular meter, and strong rhythmic stress.

The Rite of Spring was one of three ballets that made Stravinsky famous, with The Firebird and Petrushka being the other two.

Despite the fact that his technique evolved throughout time, he continued to create classics like Oedipus Rex, The Rake's Progress, and, towards the end of his career, Agon.

His compositions profoundly influenced the trajectory of music for more than half a century. Simply put, they illuminated the globe.

Nationality: Russian, French (from 1934), American (from 1945)