Who has more best-known compositions, Hans Pfitzner or Ludwig van Beethoven?
Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven ( , ; ] ; baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the "Missa solemnis", and one opera, "Fidelio".
Krzysztof Penderecki Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki ( ; ] ; born 23 November 1933) is a Polish composer and conductor. "The Guardian" has called him Poland's greatest living composer. Among his best known works are his "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima", "Symphony No. 3", "St. Luke Passion", "Polish Requiem", "Anaklasis", "Utrenja", four operas, eight symphonies and other orchestral pieces, a variety of instrumental concertos, choral settings of mainly religious texts, as well as chamber and instrumental works.