Hugo Wolf

(1860-1903)

Wolf’s life was very much one of darkness and light, and both inspired his music. Expelled from the Vienna Conservatory, Wolf was encouraged by Brahms and Wagner, whom he had met; Mahler was also a friend in his youth. Illness led to depression – something that would haunt him his entire life. His settings of poetry by the likes of Goethe, Eichendorff and Ibsen revealed him to be a master of vocal melody. He didn’t think much of the majority of his work, though, and most of it was published posthumously. Wolf ended his days in a Vienna asylum.