What are the three main similarities between classical and romantic music?
Classical form were retained in the Romantic era. Although composers developed many new ideas, the symphony, concerto, sonata and even opera continued with Classical models. Until Wagner came along and completely changed opera forever, of course. I many ways, the constraints that Classical models provided in the Romantic era helped lend a discipline to structures which were in other ways explanding and developing very quickly – and sometimes apparently chaotically. Therefore, Classical models were helping keep things ‘under control’ until such time as Wagner, Strauss and Mahler more or less dispensed with these models and experimented with new and ever more ambitious forms.
