Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the greatest classical composers of all time. He was born in Germany and spent most of his life in Vienna. His way of writing music in the 18th and 19th centuries revolutionized composition. He gave his first concert when he was only 7 years old. A pupil of Haydn, he immediately showed his extraordinary talent. His works include nine symphonies, one opera, thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets, ten violin sonatas and several other compositions. Such a vast body of work is hard to imagine, since for most of his life he suffered from hearing loss, which prevented him from hearing what he wrote. Many of his works are still heard today, such as the Ode to Joy, which is also the anthem of the European Union. Unlucky in love, he devoted his whole life to music.