Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Classic FM Requests 12pm - 2pm

    Classic FM Requests

    Now Playing

    Le Onde Ludovico Einaudi Download 'Le Onde' on iTunes

    Le Onde artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Store
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on X
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • Lyrics
    • More Classic FM

    You won't believe what these great composers look like now

    We all remember the great composers, but what happened to them after they were famous? You won't believe the transformation...

    1. composers now

      1. Richard Wagner

      We all remember the great Ring Wrangler in his pomp... but would you recognise him today? Photo: Getty

    2. composer graves

      2. Richard Wagner

      Oh. Oh dear.

    3. Tchaikovsky

      3. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      Emotional and enigmatic, and obviously rocks a pocket watch like no other. How does he look now, though? Picture: Getty

    4. composer graves

      4. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      Umm... not looking so good these days.

    5. Frederic Chopin

      5. Frederic Chopin

      Who could forget the boyish good looks of Frederic Chopin? Has he managed to keep them?

    6. composer graves

      6. Frederic Chopin

      Err... eek.

    7. composers now

      7. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Wig, frilly shirt, oodles of talent. But what does he look like now? Photo: Getty

    8. composer graves

      8. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Ugh, oh dear. Age has wearied him.

    9. George Frederick Handel

      9. George Frideric Handel

      Handel electrified the London set in his prime thanks in no small part to his en-pointe wig game, but what became of those youthful looks? How does he look now?

    10. composer graves

      10. George Frederic Handel

      Hmm. Not quite the same features as the 18th century.

    11. composers now

      11. Sergei Rachmaninov

      The Russian piano legend was renowned for his classic grumpy demeanour. But when was the last time you saw him? Photo: Getty

    12. composer graves

      12. Sergei Rachmaninov

      Hard to tell if he's still grumpy.

    13. composers now

      13. Jean Sibelius

      The magnificent Fin was always a dapper man in his youth, but what about now? Photo: Getty

    14. composer graves

      14. Jean Sibelius

      Finland's finest... but no longer as dashing.

    15. composers now

      15. Ludwig Van Beethoven

      Grumpy, emotional, complex: Beethoven was also mistaken for a tramp once. How does he look these days? Photo: Getty

    16. composer graves

      16. Ludwig Van Beethoven

      Oh blimey. What happened to those looks?

    17. composers now

      17. Johann Strauss The Elder

      Strauss I was one of the most influential composers of his generation. These days, though... Photo: Getty

    18. composer graves

      18. Johann Strauss The Elder

      Crumbs. Not quite so radiant as he once was.

    Latest humour

    See more Latest humour

    Mischievous cat steals owner’s music stand during flute practice.

    Mischievous cat repeatedly steals owner’s music stand during flute practice

    5 months ago

    Organist plays slurring Wedding March in timeless ‘drunk’ Mendelssohn parody

    Organist plays slurring Wedding March in timeless ‘drunk’ Mendelssohn parody

    5 months ago

    Mendelssohn

    Classical dogs

    21 pawfect dog names for classical music lovers

    6 months ago

    Piano-playing dog sings a melancholy tune at the piano, delighting owner’s guests

    Dog spotted confidently singing and playing at owner’s piano

    6 months ago

    A hopeful dog performs for a judging panel, during auditions in the search for performers for a rare Mozart symphony.

    Danish orchestra sets up panel to audition dogs for rare Mozart symphony

    7 months ago

    Latest on Classic FM

    Classic FM Live with Viking

    Classic FM Live returns to the Royal Albert Hall for a night of classical music anthems

    Events

    Colette Maze, who became the oldest pianist to record an album aged 108, has died at the age of 109.

    World’s oldest recording pianist, the inspiring Colette Maze, dies aged 109

    A biopic about Maurice Ravel and his iconic ‘Boléro’ is coming soon

    A new biopic about Maurice Ravel and his iconic ‘Boléro’ is set for 2024 release

    Ravel

    O Holy Night

    What are the lyrics to ‘O Holy Night’, in French and English?

    Christmas

    Beethoven and West Side Story

    Leonard Bernstein borrowed a famous Beethoven melody for West Side Story’s most emotional scene

    Bernstein, L

    The Nation’s Favourite Carol with Viking on Classic FM

    Vote for your favourite Christmas carol in The Nation’s Favourite Carol with Viking 2023

    Christmas

    Yannick Nézet-Séguin on teaching Bradley Cooper to conduct

    ‘He should pursue conducting’ – the real maestro who taught Bradley Cooper to conduct like Bernstein

    Bernstein, L

    Nicolò Foron won the 17th Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition with a programme of Wagner, Grieg and Berlioz.

    25-year-old maestro wins competition with explosive Berlioz in joyous finale

    LSO

    Mary had a little lamb

    What are the lyrics to ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’, the popular nursery rhyme?

    Beethoven's great choral anthem is based on a poem by Friedrich Schiller

    What are the lyrics to ‘Ode to Joy’, Beethoven’s triumphant choral anthem?

    Beethoven

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Google Doodle
    • Quizzes
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • LBC News
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on X
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2023
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager