Who are the three greatest living composers of “classical” music?
Note to Carolyn1 – as much as I too admire Robert Simpson’s music, I have to tell you he died back in 1997. It is VERY difficult to pick just three. On what criteria are you judging ‘best’? All you will get are people’s opinions (as there can be no definitive answer to your question – and what does it matter anyway?). I would have to disagree with your choices – especially the fraud who is Philip Glass – a clever, well marketed man who has duped a great many in the classical music world that he is actually a good composer. How strange! Pärt and Tavener are good examples of a particular style of writing (I take it you like ‘minimalist’ music) but are hardly among the best of living composers (especially Tavener, who has written some formulaic howlers in recent years). If forced to choose, I would give you (not in any particular order): Elliott Carter (b 1908 and still going strong!
