Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer widely considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Western music, known for masterpieces composed even after he lost his hearing.
Beethoven trained under composers including Joseph Haydn and quickly established himself as a leading pianist and composer in Vienna, producing symphonies, piano sonatas, and chamber music of remarkable innovation.
Beginning in his late twenties, Beethoven began losing his hearing, a devastating challenge for a musician, yet he continued composing some of his greatest works, including his Ninth Symphony, after becoming completely deaf.
His music marked a bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras, expanding the emotional range and structural ambition of symphonic music, and his compositions remain among the most performed in classical music today.