Ludwig van Beethoven

The German composer, pianist and conductor Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn on 16 December 1770 and died in Vienna (during a thunderstorm) on 26 March 1827, aged 56. He remains one of the most influential figures ever in classical music, writing at a time when the first traces of Romanticism began to appear.

Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 and studied with Franz Joseph Haydn, Johann Georg Albrechtsberger and Antonio Salieri. Unlike earlier composers who tended to work for an employer - church, state or nobleman - Beethoven worked freelance, making a living by collecting donations from aristocrats, selling his music, promoting concerts and teaching. He developed a disrespect for authority and social class, and became known for his irritable nature.

Deafness and tinnitus began in his late twenties, and as this worsened, work became increasingly difficult. He was almost totally deaf by his 35th birthday, a fact which makes the later music seem that much more incredible.

The music can be divided into three periods - classical (until about 1802, including the first two symphonies and twenty piano sonatas), heroic (1803-14, including symphonies 3-8, the Triple Concerto and the opera Fidelio) and romantic (from 1815 - Missa Solemnis, Symphony No 9 and the late string quartets and piano sonatas).