Johannes Brahms

The guardian of classical form in the Romantic era. Brahms was championed by the critic Eduard Hanslick as the antidote to Wagner's 'music of the future'. He waited until he was 43 to publish his First Symphony — terrified of comparison to Beethoven. His four symphonies, two piano concertos, violin concerto, and chamber music represent the fullest development of classical structure in post-Beethovenian music.

• Roles: Composer, Pianist