Illustration of a young Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), German composer, in Vienna in 1801. Beethovens early life in Bonn was made miserable by his father, who wanted him to be a profitable child prodigy. He was taught first by his father, then Neefe, before moving to Vienna at age 21 to study with Haydn. He was a virtuoso pianist, although in his late 20s increasing deafness led him to concentrate on composing. His legacy includes nine symphonies, five piano concertos, a violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, the great mass Missa solemnis and the opera Fidelio. He is regarded as a giant of the classical tradition, although his work is also a transition toward the romanticism of the 19th century. This is most clearly seen in the symphonies. He died in 1827 after a long illness, although the exact nature of this is unknown. Illustration from 1878.