Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. Born in Bonn, Germany, he lived primarily in Vienna, where he revolutionized classical music by bridging the classicism of Mozart and Haydn with the Romanticism of the nineteenth century.
He composed world-famous symphonies, piano sonatas, concertos, and quartets, such as the Ninth Symphony with the "Ode to Joy" and the Moonlight Sonata. Despite progressive deafness that struck him from a young age, he continued to create extraordinary works until the end of his life, becoming a symbol of genius, willpower, and artistic innovation.
