Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer of Classical and Romantic music; he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived. Most famous for his nine symphonies, piano concertos, piano sonatas, and string quartets, Beethoven was a great innovator and very probably the most influential composer in the history of music.
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Timeline
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1770 - 1827Life of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
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16 Dec 1770The composer Ludwig van Beethoven is born in Bonn, Germany.
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1779Ludwig van Beethoven is employed at the Cologne court under the tutorship of the organist and composer Christian Neefe.
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1782Ludwig van Beethoven has his first works published, a set of keyboard variations.
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1789Ludwig van Beethoven takes over responsibility for his family’s affairs from his alcoholic father.
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1792Ludwig van Beethoven moves to Vienna and studies under Joseph Haydn.
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29 Mar 1795Ludwig van Beethoven gives his first public performance at Vienna’s Burgtheater. He plays a new piano concerto.
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1798Ludwig van Beethoven begins to lose his hearing.
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1798Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Pathétique piano sonata.
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1800Ludwig van Beethoven completes his First Symphony.
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2 Apr 1800Composer Ludwig van Beethoven premieres his first symphony at the Burgtheater, Vienna, Austria.
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1801Ludwig van Beethoven composes his much-admired string quartets.
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1801Ludwig van Beethoven completes his ballet Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus).
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1801Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Moonlight piano sonata.
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1802Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Second Symphony.
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1802Ludwig van Beethoven writes his Heiligenstadt Testament.
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1803Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Third Symphony Eroica.
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1805Ludwig van Beethoven completes his opera Fidelio (initially known as Leonore).
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1806Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Fourth Symphony.
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1806Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Violin Concerto.
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1806Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Razumovsky Quartets.
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1808Ludwig van Beethoven premieres his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies.
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1809Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Fifth Piano Concerto, titled 'Emperor'.
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1811Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Seventh Symphony.
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1812Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Eighth Symphony.
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1815Ludwig van Beethoven assumes the legal guardianship of his nephew Karl.
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1818Ludwig van Beethoven is completely deaf.
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1823Ludwig van Beethoven composes his Diabelli Variations on a Waltz and the Missa solemnis.
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1824Ludwig van Beethoven completes his Ninth Symphony.
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7 May 1824Ludwig van Beethoven's 9th symphony, regarded as his masterpiece, premieres at the Theater am Karntnertor, Vienna, Austria. Beethoven was deaf by this time and, although on stage, did not conduct. When the performance ended, he had to be turned around to see the standing ovation for his work as he could not hear it.
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26 Mar 1827The composer Ludwig van Beethoven dies of liver disease in Vienna.
