Gabriel Urbain Fauré was born on May 12, 1845, in Pamiers, a small town in the South of France. From a young age, he showed a natural affinity for music and began his musical education at the École Niedermeyer in Paris. There, Fauré honed his skills as a pianist and organist, quickly establishing himself as a talented musician. Fauré's formative years were influenced by the Romantic era, with composers like Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner leaving a lasting impression on his artistic sensibilities. However, it was his encounter with Johann Sebastian Bach's music that ignited Fauré's passion for composition and helped shape his unique style.
Born in 1840 in Votkinsk, Russia, Tchaikovsky grew up during a time when homosexuality was largely condemned and considered taboo. As a result, he was forced to lead a life shrouded in secrecy, grappling with the constant fear of exposure and social ostracism. In an era when same-sex relationships were often met with disdain, Tchaikovsky struggled to reconcile his sexual orientation with societal expectations.