Luigi Cherubini is a composer of the classical period, who in many of his works indicated the new period – romanticism. His opus was especially admired by Ludwig van Beethoven, who considered him one of his greatest contemporaries. Italian, by his origins, he spent most of his life and work in Paris, whom he loved thanks to his friend, violinist Giovanni Battista Viotti, who introduced him to Marie Antoinette traveling through this city and to a renowned society. However, his arrival in the “city of light” did not please the composers who at the time were at the beginning of their career. At that time, he came quickly into conflict with young Hector Berlioz, while Adolf Adam most bothered that he always looked as if he was angry. But, nevertheless, there were also those creators who admired him, among them were Gioachino Rossini and Frederic Chopin.

“Requiem” was compiled in 1816, and premiered, next year, in 1817, at the commemoration of Louis 16 to whom the head was cut off during the French Revolution. Although it was written for this occasion, the work had great success. Musicians such as Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms highly rated him because of the mastery of form, orchestration and the balance between text and music. Beethoven said: “If I ever compose Mass for the dead, my model will be exactly this Cherubini’s composition.” Schumann said that there was no “Requiem” like this one in the whole world, while Brahms considered it being beyond the boundaries of the time in which it was created. But the church thought differently. Parisian Archbishop De Cullen criticized the “Requiem” for the use of female voices in the choir. This composition, however, did not affect the success on the concert scene, but Cherubini, in old age, wrote another requiem, this time only with male voices, wanting to satisfy the archbishop before the end of his life.

In the center of creativity of Ludwig van Beethoven, which is distinguished by the idea, enormous power of expression and great dynamism, are his symphonies, in addition to piano music and guitar quartets. It is exactly this form that Beethoven has provided all the possibilities for taking up his creative imagination, to present his philosophical ideas and perceptions of life and the world. In his symphonies, Beethoven pointed to a new symphonic theme characterized by a struggle for freedom, an irresistible aspiration to overcome suffering and the tragedy of intimate life, striving for light, through pain to joy, from personal suffering to the collective happiness of liberated humanity.

The “Eighth Symphony” was written in 1812 and premiered in 1814. Although composed at the time when one of his greatest love left him – Antonia Brentano, which was very shocking for him. This symphony brings the joy of life and even elements of humor. Some musicologists even notice that it gives a smiling “philosophy of life, like the voice of an experienced wise man who has overcome many life difficulties”. In support of this conclusion, the fact that this symphony Beethoven especially liked and called “my little Symphony in F”. In comparison to other works of this genre, this symphony is small – it lasts about 25 minutes.

Although they have a similar music atmosphere, the “Eighth Symphony” also had greater popularity than the “Seventh”. When composer Carl Czerny, then only Beethoven’s student, asked the professor why the “Eighth” was more popular than the “Seventh”, Beethoven simply said: “Because it’s much better!” His words were confirmed by critic Bernard Shaw, and the other one noted: “When the applause started at the end of the work, it was not applause provoked by the general pleasure that the work brought to the audience. On the contrary. It was applause that showed the euphoria the symphony passed on to the audience! ”