Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer and pianist widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians in Western classical music history. He played a crucial role in bridging the Classical and Romantic periods through his innovative compositions, including iconic works such as Symphony No. 5, Piano Sonata 'Moonlight,' and the Bagatelle 'Für Elise.' Despite progressive hearing loss that culminated in complete deafness, Beethoven continued composing until his death and profoundly influenced the development of music.