Juan Crisostómo de Arriaga

Juan de Arriaga (1806-1826), dubbed "The Spanish Mozart," was among the youngest-lived composers to make a lasting impression in classical music. A native of Bilbao, Arriaga wrote his opera Los Esclavos Felices, at the age of 11; only its overture survives. At 15, he was sent to the Paris Conservatoire, and his early death -- just 10 days short of his 20th birthday -- may have been caused from overwork toward early completion of his certificate. Arriaga's worklist is small, but substantive given his short time, including a Symphony in D major, three overtures, three string quartets, cantatas, and other works.