1. Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901): Italian opera composer, known for his works like "La traviata", "Rigoletto", and "Aida".
2. Richard Wagner (1813-1883): German composer, conductor, and music theorist. Wagner is particularly known for his operas, including "Lohengrin", "Tristan und Isolde", and the four-opera cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen".
3. Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Russian-born composer and conductor, associated with the early 20th century movement of modernism in music. Stravinsky's notable works include "The Rite of Spring", "Petrushka", and "Symphony of Psalms".
4. Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951): Austrian-born composer, music theorist, and teacher. Schoenberg is recognized as a pioneer of atonality and twelve-tone technique. Some of his notable works include "Verklärte Nacht" (Transfigured Night), "Pierrot Lunaire", and "Moses und Aron".
5. Igor Stravinsky (mentioned earlier): Stravinsky's contributions to contemporary music are particularly significant. His innovative compositions challenged traditional harmonic structures and explored new musical forms, influencing the development of 20th-century music.
6. Richard Strauss (1864-1949): German composer, conductor, and pianist. Strauss is known for his operas such as "Salome", "Elektra", and "Der Rosenkavalier", as well as his orchestral works including the tone poems "Don Juan" and "Also Sprach Zarathustra".
7. Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884): Czech composer, pianist, and conductor. Smetana is considered a leading figure of Czech music and is best known for his operas, particularly "The Bartered Bride", as well as his symphonic works like the symphonic cycle "Má vlast" (My Homeland).
These composers have made significant contributions to the world of music during the contemporary period, shaping its development and influencing subsequent generations of musicians and composers.