Unravelling the bizarre demises of brilliant composers.
Classical music history is filled with fascinating stories of triumph and tragedy. While many composers have passed away under ordinary circumstances, some have met their end in the most unexpected and peculiar ways.
František Kotzwara (1730-1791)
Kotzwara, a Czech composer and violinist, met his end during an erotic asphyxiation session with a prostitute in London in 1791. Despite his talents, Kotzwara’s bizarre death has overshadowed his musical legacy.
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
The Italian-born French composer died from gangrene, which developed after he accidentally stabbed his foot with a conducting staff during a performance in 1687. His odd demise is a testament to the perils of unchecked passion.
Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)
The French composer and pianist Alkan, known for his virtuosic piano compositions, supposedly died after a bookcase fell on him. Some speculate that he was reaching for a book on the Talmud, a Jewish religious text, when the heavy bookcase toppled over and crushed him.
Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
The Russian composer and pianist Scriabin, a forerunner of the Symbolist movement, died from septicemia at the age of 43. The infection began with a small pimple on his lip, which he ignored and continued to shave over, causing the infection to worsen. His untimely death halted the creation of his ambitious and mystical work “Mysterium,” which was intended to be a week-long, transformative event.
Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)
The French composer Chausson, known for his lush and expressive music, died in a bicycle accident at the age of 44. While riding downhill near his estate, he lost control and crashed into a brick wall, resulting in fatal injuries. Chausson’s death came at the height of his career, leaving behind a small but significant body of work.
Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
The Belgian violinist and composer Vieuxtemps suffered an unfortunate and bizarre death when he was struck by a rock thrown by an unknown assailant. The impact caused severe injuries that eventually led to his demise. Vieuxtemps was an influential musician of his time, and his compositions remain a staple of the violin repertoire.
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