Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor 10pm - 1am

    Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor

    Now Playing

    Reverie Claude Debussy Download 'Reverie' on iTunes

    Reverie artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      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
    • More Classic FM

    We put portraits of the great composers through Microsoft's 'How Old Do I Look?' tool. Here's what it came up with…

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Can a computer tell how old the great composers are in their portraits? We put Microsoft's new tool to the test…

    1. How old are the composers

      1. How old is Beethoven?

      This sweet little portrait of Beethoven was actually painted when he was 13. Oh and he's not a girl. Nice one, Microsoft.

    2. How old are the composers

      2. How old is Liszt?

      He was actually 75 here… looking good, Liszt! Picture: Getty

    3. How old are the composers

      3. How old is Shostakovich?

      Microsoft shaves a few years off Shostakovich's actual age – he was 65 in this photo. Picture: Getty

    4. How old are the composers

      4. How old is Bernstein?

      The tool adds ten years to poor Bernstein's real age here – he was 44. Picture: Getty

    5. How old are the composers

      5. How old is Handel?

      Handel clearly hasn't been moisturising enough – he's actually 41 in this portrait.

    6. How old are the composers

      6. How old is Vivaldi?

      Try subtracting 20 from that, Microsoft… the composer of The Four Seasons was actually 30 here. And a man. Whoops, computer!

    7. Clara Schumann

      7. How old is Clara Schumann?

      Not bad, internet. The leading virtuoso pianist of her day was actually about 21 when this portrait was done.

    8. How old are the composers

      8. How old is Mozart?

      So Mozart was seven when this portrait was painted. And 'How Old Do I Look?' has him pegged for a 20-year-old woman. Right.

    9. How old are the composers

      9. How old is Mendelssohn?

      But pity poor Mendelssohn. He's the tender age of 12 in this picture and this website thinks he's a 43-year-old woman. Maybe it's the hair?

    10. How old are the composers

      10. How old is Bach?

      Bach clearly had a mean skin-care routine – he's actually 61 here.

    11. How old are the composers

      11. How old is Monteverdi?

      Computer says 'no' for Monteverdi. "Couldn't detect any faces" :(

    12. How old are the composers

      12. How old is Rachmaninov?

      Almost spot-on! Have a gold star, computer. Rachmaninov is 64 here. Picture: Getty

    13. Brahms and Johann Strauss II

      13. How old were Brahms and Johann Strauss II here?

      Johann Strauss II definitely gets the better deal here – he was actually 66 here. Brahms, however was a comparative spring chicken – just 58. We blame the beard. Picture: Getty

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Discover music

    See more Discover music

    Anna Lapwood performs the Star Wars finale with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall

    Organist Anna Lapwood plays epic ‘Star Wars’ in fireworks-filled finale at Royal Albert Hall

    8 hours ago

    A new collaboration?

    Lizzo is eyeing up pop star Adele for a duet – on the flute

    1 day ago

    New TV piano talent show judged by Lang Lang to be hosted by Claudia Winkleman

    Lang Lang to judge train station piano talent show, finding the nation’s top amateur pianists

    1 day ago

    Lang Lang

    Ledoux on stage at the Volksoper in Orpheus in the Underworld

    Mezzo stands in last-minute for tenor lead, doubling as Venus and Orpheus in Offenbach opera

    4 days ago

    Four musicians on a street piano

    Four virtuoso pianists astonish passersby with epic boogie-woogie improvisation

    5 days ago

    Videos

    Kateryna is now studying at Clifton College during the week, and the Royal Academy of Music’s Junior programme on Saturdays.

    12-year-old Ukrainian refugee lands a place studying piano at the Junior Royal Academy of Music

    5 days ago

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Women composers gallery

    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

    Classic FM Live Playlists

    See more Classic FM Live Playlists

    Classic FM Hall of Fame

    Classic FM Pet Classics

    Classic FM at the Movies

    Classic FM Relax

    Classic FM Revision

    Classic FM Christmas

    Browse by

    See more Browse by

    Periods & genres

    Occasions

    Moods

    Instruments

    Latest on Classic FM

    Gustavo Dudamel to leave LA Philharmonic for New York Philharmonic

    Star maestro Gustavo Dudamel announced as music director of New York Philharmonic

    New York Phil

    Beyoncé and conductor Sir Georg Solti

    Beyoncé eclipses legendary conductor Sir Georg Solti’s Grammys record – with 32 award wins

    Sir Georg Solti

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery.

    This week’s Classic FM radio highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    Zeb Soanes, Moira Stuart, Alexander Armstrong

    Audience growth for Classic FM as it welcomes 5 million weekly listeners

    Ludovico Einaudi surprises young fan at airport piano

    Ludovico Einaudi surprises young fan in spontaneous airport piano duet

    Einaudi

    William is a 10-year-old senior chorister at Ripon Cathedral

    Choirboy William, 10, says singing in a cathedral choir helps manage his arthritis pain

    9-year-old girl plays 'Titanic' theme in South Africa shopping mall

    9-year-old pianist scores duet deal after viral shopping centre video

    McDonald's in Wrexham to play Beethoven after 5pm to deter loiterers

    McDonald’s restaurant in Wales to play Beethoven to tackle late-night antisocial behaviour

    Beethoven

    What classical music is in Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’?

    What classical music is in Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’, and does Michelle Williams really play the piano?

    Williams

    Best piano works

    The 16 best pieces EVER written for piano

    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 Twitter
    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