Nikos Skalkottas (1904-1949) was a Greek composer of 20th-century classical music. Dimitri Mitropoulos (1896-1960), was a Greek conductor, pianist, and composer. Here is an image of a stamp honoring both musicians, printed by lithography, and issued by Greece on April 29, 1985 as one of two stamps in a EUROPA set, Scott No. 1519, plus a YouTube link to recording of "Kleftikos Dance," by Nikos Skalkotas, performed by the Philarmonic of New York, Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting.
Happy Birthday to Dame Nellie Melba GBE (1861-1931), born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, a world famous Australian operatic soprano who took the pseudonym "Melba" from Melbourne, her home town. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Melba, designed and engraved by Bruce Stewart after a bust of the singer by Australian sculptor Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal, KCVO (1863-1931), and issued by Australia on September 20, 1961 to commemorate Melba's birth centenary, plus an image of a portrait of the diva by Australian photographer Henry Walter Barnett (1862-1934), and a YouTube link to an August 23, 1910 recording of Dame Nellie Melba singing "Lo, Here The Gentle Lark," music by English composer Sir Henry Rowley Bishop (1786-1855), accompanied by Australian flautist and composer John Lemmone (1861-1949), flute obbligato. Bonus: Signature.
Happy Birthday to Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (1860-1909), a Spanish pianist and composer best known for his piano works based on folk music idioms. Here is an image of one of the two similar stamps in a set featuring a portrait of Isaac Albéniz, printed by photogravure, and issued by Spain on November 7, 1960 to commemorate the composer's birth centenary, Scott No. 964, plus a photograph of Albéniz at the piano which may have been a model (sans cigar) for this stamp's design, and a YouTube link to a performance by Spanish classical pianist Luis Fernando Pérez (1977- ) of Isaac Albéniz'a composition "Asturias" (Leyenda) from Suite española, Op. 47, No. 5.
Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov (1883-1946) was a Russian Soviet composer, and the founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who wrote the music for the national anthem of the Soviet Union, which, in 2000, became the anthem of the Russian Federation (with new lyrics by Russian author Sergey Vladimirovich Mikhalkov (1913-2009). Here is an image of a stamp honoring Alexandrov, designed by Russian artist Anatoli Ivánovich Kaláshnikov (1930-2007), printed by lithography, and issued by Russia (USSR) on March 22, 1983 to commemorate the composer's birth centenary, Scott No. 5128, Zagorski No. 5309, plus an image of a photo of Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, and a YouTube link to a 2004 recording of the Alexandrov Ensemble performing the Russian National Anthem.
Alexandrov is known in Russia as the author of another hymn, this is the song "Holy War." It was written by two days after the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it sounds still raises patriotic feelings of the Russian people.
Claudio Arrau León (1903-1991) was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast classical repertoire spanning the baroque to 20th-century composers, and widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Arrau at the piano, designed by J.C. Peña, printed by lithography, and issued by Chile on January 31, 1992, Scott No. 999, plus an image of a photograph of the musician in 1974, and a YouTube link to a recording of Claudio Arrau performing Frédéric Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Opus 66 (1834).
Happy Birthday to Thomas Koschat (1845-1914), an Austrian composer and choirmaster best known for making traditional Carinthian folk songs popular throughout the world. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Koschat, designed by Austrian artist Adalbert Pilch (1917-2004), engraved by Werner Pfeiler (1941- ), and issued by Austria on September 16, 1970, Scott No. 880, plus an image of a lithograph portrait of Koschat (1884) by German artist Joseph Anton Bauer (1820-1904) which may have been the model for this stamp's design, and a YouTube link to a recording of a performance of Verlâssen bin i! ("I am Leaving!"), a Carinthian folk song, arranged by Thomas Koschat, and sung by Austrian tenor Helmut Wildhaber, accompanied by Christian Koch on clavier.
As I love classical music, classical composers was my first topical collection. I have most of the stamps pictured in this thread, at least of the composers. I noticed that back in January of 2012 nethryk posted a picture of the 1999 Polish stamp honoring Frederic Chopin (Michael PL3794). That was a joint issue with France (Michael FR3428). Joint issues are another of my topical collections, so this pair is a double favorite of mine:
BKing - Welcome to SCF! Please post more images of musicians and composers stamps from your collection.
Happy Birthday to Anton Bruckner (1824- 1896), an Austrian composer best known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Bruckner, designed by Austrian artist Rudolf Junk (1880-1943), engraved by Ferdinand Schirnböck (1859-1930), and issued by Austria on April 24, 1922, Scott No. B54, plus an image of a painted portrait of the composer, and a YouTube link to a recorded performance by the Monteverdi Choir of Anton Bruckner's sacred motet Os Justi ("The mouth of the righteous," WAB 30, 1879).
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) was a pianist, composer and conductor. He is regarded as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. His works enjoyed wide popularity due to his use of innovative stylistic variations. Early works such as The Firebird and The Rite of Spring were dissonant, rhythmic and often contained references to Russian folk song. Then followed from around 1921 a neo-classical phase which lasted thirty years. Stravinsky adopted serialism in his later years, in works such as Canticum Sacrum and Threni.
US Postal Service issued a 2-cent postage stamp on November 18, 1982 honoring Igor Stravinsky.
George Gershwin (1898 - 1937) George Gershwin was one of the most significant American composers of the 20th century, known for popular stage and screen numbers as well as classical compositions. His best known work is "Rhapsody in Blue." US Postal Service issued an 8c commemorative stamp on February 8, 1973.
Irving Berlin (1888 - 1989) Irving Berlin was a self-taught composer. During his nearly 60-year career, Berlin wrote about 1,500 songs, 18 movie scores and 19 Broadway shows. "Puttin' On The Ritz," "God Bless America" and "White Christmas" are among his most popular and enduring tunes. US Postal Service issued a 37c Irving Berlin commemorative stamp on September 15, 2002.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874 – 1951) was an Austrian composer and painter, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School. He created new methods of musical composition involving atonality, namely serialism and the 12-tone row. Austrain Post issued a stamp on September 13, 1974 to honor his 100th anniversary of birth.
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Stamp Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Stamp Community Family - All rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Stamp Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited. Privacy Policy / Terms of UseAdvertise Here
Posted 05/18/2015 08:50 am
