Wagner, whose life was no less impressive than his operas, is undoubtedly one of the greatest figures of the 19th century. He is the only composer in history to have created his own "temple" - at Bayreuth.

Stations in life:
Leipzig, Weimar, Munich, Bayreuth

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's eldest son, was born in Weimar in 1710. After disagreeing with the church authorities, he gave up his permanent duties as organist in Halle and chose instead to live in Berlin as a freelance musician "without commitments". His works are all in the pre-revolutionary spirit of Sturm und Drang (storm and stress).

Stations in life:
Weimar, Dresden, Halle

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Sebastian's second - and perhaps most gifted - son, was born in Weimar. For a number of years, he was chamber harpsichordist to Frederick the Great, before becoming a successful opera director in Hamburg. His imaginative works show freedom from his father's strict rules and are very much in the style of the rococo and Sturm und Drang (storm and stress).

Stations in life:
Weimar, Berlin, Hamburg