Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is regarded as one of the central figures in the history of Western music. His compositions, which are among the most frequently performed in the classical repertoire, mark a transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era. His career is often divided into three periods: the early period, ending around 1802, in which he developed his compositional style; the middle period, from 1802 to around 1812, noted for a more individual and often dramatic character; and the late period, from 1812 to 1827, marked by greater structural innovation and expressive depth.

Beethoven was born in Bonn and showed musical talent from a young age. He received early instruction from his father, Johann van Beethoven, and later studied with Christian Gottlob Neefe, under whom he published his first work in 1783. He found support and friendship with the von Breuning family during a troubled home life. In 1792, he moved to Vienna, where he studied composition with Joseph Haydn and gradually established himself as a pianist and composer. In 1795, he published his Opus 1 piano trios, supported by his patron Karl Alois, Prince Lichnowsky.

His first major orchestral work, the First Symphony, premiered in 1800, and he published his first string quartets in 1801. Despite increasing hearing loss during this period, he remained active as a performer and conductor, with major works including the Third Symphony (1804), the Violin Concerto (1806), and the Fifth Symphony (1808). His last piano concerto, No. 5 (the "Emperor"), was completed in 1811 and dedicated to Archduke Rudolf of Austria. By 1815, Beethoven was almost completely deaf and withdrew from public performance. His personal reflections on his condition are expressed in documents such as the Heiligenstadt Testament (1802) and an unsent letter to an unknown figure referred to as the "Immortal Beloved" (1812).

In his later years, Beethoven became increasingly isolated, yet he composed many of his most highly regarded works, including his final piano sonatas, later symphonies, and mature chamber music. His only opera, "Fidelio", was first performed in 1805 and revised several times, with the final version presented in 1814. Between 1819 and 1823, he composed the "Missa solemnis", and from 1822 to 1824, he wrote the Ninth Symphony, notable for its choral finale. His final compositions include the late string quartets, such as the "Grosse Fuge" (1825–1826). After a prolonged illness, Beethoven died in Vienna in 1827 at the age of 56. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.