Queer Composers… that You’ve Probably Already Heard Of
Article by Holt Templeton, Illustration by Maria Cazzato
The classical music canon is generally not a diverse body of figures-- overwhelmingly, the familiar names in classical spheres are white and male. As such, this exclusive group of musicians who hold the titles of some of history’s “greatest” composers generally include no minorities, save for one category: gay and bisexual men. It often comes as a surprise to some people when they learn that the great creators of so-called “art music” are not all snooty, traditional heterosexuals. In fact, many of the architects of some of the most ubiquitous tunes in today’s collective consciousness were, in fact, pretty gay.
Starting off with probably the first person that comes to mind when you think “gay classical composer,” we have none other than Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In the off chance that you have neither heard of him nor watched Disney’s Fantasia,Tchaikovsky is a fan favorite both in and out of concert halls. All six of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies are in the rotation in concert halls, and his first piano concerto is most likely the most performed work in its genre. Then there’s The Nutcracker, which is pretty much the 19th century equivalent to the Mariah Carey Christmas album. Thanks to his perhaps unparalleled talent for creating beautiful and memory melodies, Tchakovksyhas won his way into his way into the hearts of classical diehards and Top 40 loving laymen alike. Of all the melodies in Tchaikovsky’s extensive oeuvre, none quite touch me as does the main theme of his iconic Violin Concerto in D Major. After the conclusion of a short-lived and unhappy marriage, the Russian musician took to vacationing in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. It was in the latter location that Tchaikovksy was joined by a close friend and love interest, violinist Iosif Kotek. Kotek, though primarily in women, shared Tchaikovsky’s feelings, and practically begged the composer to write a violin concerto. Tchaikovsky took his lover up on his request, and with significant help from Kotek, created one of the most beloved violin pieces in history.
Moving to the west in the great country of wine, cheese, and silent consonants, we have a fruity Frenchman by the name of Camille Saint-Saens. A piano prodigy of the highest caliber, the young Saint-Saens made his debut performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 15 at the ripe age of ten. As an encore, the French piano wunderkind asked his audience to pick any of Beethoven’s thirty-two sonatas for him to play by memory. As an adult, Saint-Saens enjoyed a fruitful career composing all sorts of works, including symphonies, concertos, operas, sonatas, and more. However, we remember him best today for the ever-popular Carnival of the Animals, a suite of fourteen movements representing various animals in musical form. In his private life, Saint-Saens, similar to his Russian contemporary, had a very short and unhappy marriage to his pupil’s sister. After the deaths of their young children, Saint-Saens walked out on his wife and continued about his life. Though little is knownabout his other romantic endeavors, it is highly likely that Saint-Saens was a gay man. Besides his prompt abandonment of his wife, Saint-Saens supposedly performed in drag, and made frequent visits to Algiers, then known as a gay hotspot. The composer’s sexuality was not exactly a secret, and he once responded to rumors regarding the topic with “I am not a homosexual; I am a pederast!” Considering that both titles entail relationships with other men, it is safe to say that Saint-Saens was not straight.
The history of classical music is not a heterosexual one. From Handel to Chopin to Bernstein, the world of classical music is home to some of history’s greatest queer icons. Classical music is and always will be a welcome space for queer individuals of all identities. Classical music is truly for everyone, and it should be recognized as such.
