Ludwig van Beethoven

He wrote some of the most performed music in history while going deaf. Beethoven bridged the Classical and Romantic eras, expanding the symphony and string quartet into forms that still dominate concert halls.

Musicians Singer / Musician Classical Literature Early Modern Era

A life in dates

1880Beethoven monument, ViennaTribute1 May 1880More about this, monument in Innere Stadt, Austria1875Beethoven PrizeNamed after himMore about this, Austrian music award1862BeethovenruheTribute1835L'île des piratesStage work with his music12 August 1835More about this, 1835 ballet-pantomime1827Died26 March 1827“Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est. (Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over.)”In their wordsSaid on his deathbed, 1827 [citation needed]Read the whole statement

1822“You will hear nothing of me here ... Fidelio? They cannot give it, nor do they want to listen to it. The symphonies? They have no time for them. My concertos?”In their wordsThayer 1967b, p. 801. (1822)Read the whole statement

1814“One clashes with stupidity of all kinds. And then how much money must be spent in advance! The way in which artists are treated is really scandalous.”In their words24 November 181424th November, 1814Read the whole statement

1810“Music is indeed the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life.”In their words28 May 1810Attributed to Beethoven by Bettina von Arnim in a letter to Goethe (28 May 1810); Goethe's Correspondence with a Child (1837)Read the whole statement

1804“Music is like a dream. One that I cannot hear.”In their wordsJanuary 1804Conversations (January 1804)Read the whole statement

1801“I want to seize fate by the throat.”In their words16 November 1801Letter to F.G. Wegeler, 16 November, 1801.Read the whole statement

1770Born16 December 1770

Photos 12

Beethoven's birthplace at Bonngasse 20 in Bonn is now the Beethoven-Haus museum.

Ludwig van Beethoven baptismal document

Silhouette image made of Beethoven "in his 16th year" (c. 1786; age 15). He wears the uniform and wig suited to his employment as a court musician in Bonn.[14]

The earliest known portrait of Beethoven (age 29); engraving (c. 1801) by Johann Joseph Neidl after a now-lost portrait by Gandolph Ernst Stainhauser von Treuberg (c. 1800)[37]

Prince Lobkowitz depicted in a portrait by August Friedrich Oelenhainz

In their own words 10

Ludwig van Beethoven

10 statements, newest first

Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est. (Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over.)
1827, Said on his deathbed, 1827 [citation needed], Own words
The day-to-day exhausted me!
Aug 23, 1823, Karl von Baden, August 23, 1823, Own words
You will hear nothing of me here ... Fidelio? They cannot give it, nor do they want to listen to it. The symphonies? They have no time for them. My concertos?
1822, Thayer 1967b, p. 801. (1822), Own words

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Albums 24

SOSymphony no. 5 / Egmont Overture / Consecration of the House Overture1963

ABAlfred Brendel Plays Beethoven1962

DVDiabelli-Variationen1962

SESymphony no. 3 (Eroica)1962

OI4 Ouvertures: Egmont / Prometheus / Coriolan / Leonore III1962

POPiano Concerto no. 3 in C minor, op. 371962

SPSymphonie Nr. 6 "Pastorale"1962

POPiano Sonatas opp. 109,1101962

SESinfonie nr. 3 Es-Dur op. 55 (Eroica)1962

SCSymphonie N°5 / Ouverture : Coriolan1962

VNViolinkonzert / Romanzen Nr. 1 & 21962

SCSymphonie N° 9 en ré mineur avec chœurs1962

SOSymphony no. 6 in F major, op. 681962

PNPiano Concerto no. 51961

SYSymphonies 1 & 81961

PMPiano Concerto no. 4 in G major1961

VCViolin Concerto1961

DVDiabelli Variations1961

BSBeethoven · Schubert - Trios · Bach - Sinfonias1961

SLSimfonia Nr. 4 În Si Bemol Major / Uvertura „Leonora“1961

SMSimfonia Nr. 1 În Do Major / Simfonia Nr. 8 În Fa Major1961

WOWellington's Victory / Leonore Overture no. 3, op. 72a / Prometheus Overture, op. 431961

SESymphony no. 3 in E-flat major, op. 55 "Eroica"1961

SCSerenade Opus 8 / Duo For Violin And Cello1961

Awards

Bröckemännche Award2020

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Ludwig van Beethoven

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About this person

Born in Bonn in 1770, Beethoven was drilled as a prodigy by his father before finding steadier ground with teacher Christian Gottlob Neefe and the von Breuning family. At 21 he moved to Vienna to study with Haydn, built a reputation as a virtuoso pianist, and by 1795 had published his first opus-numbered works. His career unfolded in three phases: early works in the classical mold of Haydn and Mozart, a middle period from 1802 to 1812 that produced the Eroica and Fifth Symphonies at unprecedented scale, and a late stretch of radical invention - the choral Ninth Symphony in 1824, the Hammerklavier, the Diabelli Variations, and string quartets that remain pinnacles of the form. He began losing his hearing around 1798 and died bedridden in Vienna in 1827, aged 56.

Country

Germany