Some Generous Musicians

Great musicians have often been generous to a fault—sometimes downright spendthrift. Two famous examples were Franz Liszt, the superstar pianist, and Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale,” both known for giving away huge sums.

One story about Mozart captures the spirit. A beggar pestered him for money; Mozart had none in his pocket, so he quickly sketched a little song on blank paper and told the man to take it to a specific publisher, who would pay well. The beggar did—and got the cash. (It also raises the classic question: if Mozart could do that so easily, why was he so often broke himself?)

Even Rossini, who had a reputation for stinginess, was notably generous to his parents. After the first three performances of every new opera, he would send them two‑thirds of what he’d earned for writing it.