FAQ About Beethoven (Ludwig van Beethoven)

During his lifetime, Beethoven was celebrated as a virtuoso pianist and an innovative composer. Early in his career, he enjoyed great success, and his works were often well-received, although sometimes challenging for audiences. As his hearing deteriorated, his compositions grew more ambitious and complex, occasionally baffling contemporaries. By the time of his death, however, Beethoven was widely regarded as a musical genius, and his works, particularly his symphonies and sonatas, were celebrated for their emotional depth and structural innovation.