Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics at Seven with Zeb Soanes 7pm - 10pm

    Smooth Classics at Seven with Zeb Soanes

    Now Playing

    Concerted Symphony in Eb major (2) Johann Christian Bach Download 'Concerted Symphony in Eb major (2)' on iTunes

    Concerted Symphony in Eb major (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • 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

    Pictures

    Composer

    10 of the greatest composers who broke the law

    Facebook share X share

    The classical music world is not short of scandal, but which composers actually got caught? Check out our list of musicians who were sent to jail, arrested, or caught doing things they shouldn't.

    1. Igor Stravinsky

      1. Igor Stravinsky - arrested?

      No stranger to controversy, Russian pioneer Stravinsky became the subject of a hotly disputed classical music myth when he inserted a controversial dominant seventh chord at a crucial point in a performance of the American national anthem. The police supposedly warned him that a $100 fine would be applicable, and arrested him.

    2. Ethel Smyth

      2. Ethel Smyth - composer and suffragette

      In the male-dominated world of classical music composition, female composers can often be overlooked - not so with Dame Ethel Smyth. During her musical education she met composers like Dvorak, Grieg and Tchaikovsky, as well as Clara Schumann and Brahms. However, as a member of the suffragette movement, she was imprisoned for two months in Holloway Prison. When the conductor Thomas Beecham went to visit her, he found her conducting the singing of her fellow inmates with a toothbrush.

    3. Erik Satie

      3. Erik Satie - Cultural Anarchist?

      In much the same way as Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring caused a riot at its premiere, Erik Satie's collaboration with Jean Cocteau entitled 'Parade' ended up in a bit of a fracas on its opening night. In fact, Satie ended up in jail for eight days as a result.

    4. Michael Tippett

      4. Michael Tippett - Conscientious Objector

      Michael Tippett, like many composers, was a conscientious objector to the Second World War effort. This meant that he went to prison. Tippett was a staunch pacifist, and his spell in prison combined with what he saw as the moral injustice of war led him to compose his anti-war masterpiece, 'A Child Of Our Time'.

    5. Johann Sebastian Bach at the organ

      5. Johann Sebastian Bach - jailed by his boss

      Bach spent a short time in prison, not necessarily because he had done anything wrong, but because he wanted to leave his powerful employer at the time. Still, he was productive while he was inside, and rattled off his book of keyboard exercises: the Orgelbuchen.

    6. Ivor Novello

      6. Ivor Novello - Misuse of Petrol Coupons

      The popular entertainer and song composer Ivor Novello spent four weeks in jail in the midst of the Second World War for misusing petrol coupons. Even though it sounds ridiculous, it was quite a serious offence in wartime Britain.

    7. Schubert as a child

      7. Franz Schubert - 'Opprobrious language'

      Franz Schubert was, along with four friends, arrested by a suspicious Viennese police force who were on the look-out for any boisterous gatherings of young people. Apparently, Schubert's gang was exactly that, and he was reprimanded for his use of insulting language to to the coppers.

    8. Giachino Rossini photograph

      8. Rossini's father - jailed revolutionary

      Because of his sympathies for the French revolutionary cause, Gioachino Rossini's horn-playing father Giuseppe was often under close scrutiny from the authorities. They caught up with him in the end, though, and he was sent to prison in 1799.

    9. Ludwig Van Beethoven drawing

      9. Beethoven - a drunk and disorderly tramp?

      We know that Beethoven was occasionally a dark and tormented sort of soul, but his image really took a beating when he was arrested in the streets of Baden in 1820. Reportedly somewhat worse for wear, Beethoven had become lost and hungry and was gazing into people's windows. He was promptly arrested by a policeman who mistook him for a tramp and threw him in jail, even when Beethoven insisted he was one of the finest composers of his generation.

    10. San Quentin Prison interior

      10. Henry Cowell - making the best of it behind bars

      He might not be the most famous musical name of the 20th century, but American composer and theorist Henry Cowell's story is remarkable. In 1936 he was sentenced to 15 years in San Quentin State Prison (pictured) for what the authorities called a 'moral' charge (Cowell was bisexual). While he was inside, Cowell continued to compose at a furious rate, producing over 60 compositions, and conducted the prison band before being released after four years.

    Facebook share X share

    Latest on Classic FM

    Classic FM Auction: Bid to win a Yamaha piano and private lesson, and Cornwall manor house stay

    Classic FM Auction: Bid to win a Yamaha piano and private lesson, and Cornwall manor house stay

    Charity

    Classic FM announces new book ‘The Very Young Person’s Guide to Ballet Music’

    Classic FM announces new book ‘The Very Young Person’s Guide to Ballet Music’

    Everything you need to know about German film composer, Hans Zimmer.

    Inside Hans Zimmer’s greatest film scores, family, and awards so far

    Zimmer

    Tamar Greene sings to his baby

    Baby duets with Broadway star dad in video that’s bringing people to tears

    Videos

    The most memorable times classical music featured in the hit cartoon ‘Bluey’

    Bluey soundtrack: what are all the pieces of classical music used in the TV show?

    Discover Music

    Yuja Wang is one of the greatest pianists of the 21st century.

    Who is Yuja Wang, and what makes her so good at the piano?

    Yuja Wang

    Maxim Vengerov, Lise Davidsen, Yo-Yo Ma: among today’s leading classical artists

    The 30 greatest classical musicians performing today

    Discover Music

    A depiction of Jesus holding a lamb

    What are the lyrics to ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ and who wrote the hymn?

    Discover Music

    Whitney Houston and Luciano Pavarotti stunned crowds with an opera duet.

    When Whitney Houston surprised the world with an extraordinary Verdi aria… with Luciano Pavarotti

    Luciano Pavarotti

    Royal Swedish Opera cancels all performances after tragic accident

    Royal Swedish Opera cancels all performances as stage technician tragically dies after fall

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Discover Music

    Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

    The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

    Discover Music

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    Discover Music

    A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

    The 25 greatest conductors of all time

    Discover Music

    Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

    30 of the greatest classical music composers of all time

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Discover Music

    Classic FM Live Playlists

    See more Classic FM Live Playlists

    Classic FM Hall of Fame

    Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame

    Classic FM Relax

    Essential Classical

    Classic FM Video Game Music

    Classic FM Pet Classics

    Latest news

    See more Latest news

    Alexander Armstrong embarks on a Musical Voyage challenge for Global’s Make Some Noise

    Alexander Armstrong embarks on a Musical Voyage charity challenge for Global’s Make Some Noise!

    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

    Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2023: winners Emily Jones and Jason Redhead

    We’re revealing the winners of the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2023 with ABRSM!

    Events

    A major fire broke out at the factory of one of the world’s oldest piano manufacturers on Tuesday night.

    Fire breaks out at Bösendorfer piano factory, destroying an entire building

    Discover Music

    Soloist unable to board flight – after Ryanair said her 18th-century violin was ‘too big’ for the plane

    Soloist barred from flight – after Ryanair claimed 18th-century violin ‘too big’ for the plane

    Discover Music

    The 15 best pieces of music by composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt.

    The 15 greatest pieces by Franz Liszt

    Latest videos

    See more Latest videos

    Fiji World Cup Rugby team sing in France

    Fiji rugby team sing together in spine-tingling harmony ahead of World Cup triumphs

    9 days ago

    Videos

    A12 orchestra plays in Netherlands protest

    Orchestra passionately mimes Mozart ‘Dies Irae’ in protest – after police banned their instruments

    10 days ago

    Mozart

    Conductor Vladimir Jurowski tells audience to ‘let climate protestors speak’ as they interrupt Bruckner symphony

    Conductor Vladimir Jurowski tells audience to ‘let climate protestors speak’ as they interrupt Bruckner symphony

    17 days ago

    Sir Anthony Hopkins surprised hotel staff with a dazzling piano performance in their lobby.

    Sir Anthony Hopkins, 85, stuns hotel staff with spontaneous piano playing in empty lobby

    22 days ago

    Acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman, and legendary conductor Gustavo Dudamel swapped their instrument and baton in rare rehearsal insight

    When Gustavo Dudamel played violin and Itzhak Perlman conducted in a reverse duet for the ages

    1 month ago

    Gustavo Dudamel

    Organist plays epic ‘Davy Jones’ from Pirates of the Caribbean in bone-chilling cathedral acoustic

    Organist plays epic ‘Davy Jones’ from Pirates of the Caribbean in bone-chilling cathedral acoustic

    1 month ago

    Zimmer

    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