Despite the increasing appeal of popular music, orchestral music has flourished in the modern era, often looking to alternative influences and stylisms. Here are some of the most famous modern composers.

Bela Bartok (1881-1945) drew on his Hungarian folk roots to revolutionise opera, chamber music and ballet. Regarded as a great thinker as well as a musician, his influence will remain for years to come.

Philip Glass (1937- ) started out as a minimalist with works such as ‘Strung Out’ but later expanded his oeuvre into symphony with operas like Satyagraha, based on the life