Ludwig van Beethoven

"To play without passion is inexcusable!"

Ludwig van Beethoven (17 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) was a German pianist and composer considered as the one of the greatest of all time, whose compositions combined vocals and instruments, widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto and quartet. He is the crucial figure in connecting the transition of the Classical and Romantic Era of Western music. Despite struggling against his deafness, some of his greatest works were composed during the last 10 years of his life when he was unable to hear.

Born in December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany, he was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and Christian Gottlob Neefe when he displayed an innate musical talent at an early age. At the age of 21, Beethoven moved to Vienna where continued his composition studies with Joseph Haydn and gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. His hearing began deteriorating in his late 20s and by the last decade of his life, he was almost completely deaf. He shortly gave up conducting and appearing in public, opting to compose. He lived in Vienna until his death at the age of 56.