Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven started getting piano lessons at the age of 4 from his father but also other local teachers. Beethoven did his first public performance at the age of 7.

A few years later Beethoven began taking lessons from the most important teacher in Bonn, Christian Gottlob Neefe who also helped him writing his first composition.

In 1792 Beethoven moved to Vienna where he worked under Haydn's direction and established a reputation as an improviser. Around 1796 Beethoven began to lose his hearing and over time his hearing loss became profound. This however did not prevent his composing music, Beethoven's first symphony was published in 1801 and his famous 5th symphony was published in 1808 7 years later when Beethoven was 31. His last 9th symphony was premiered on 7 may 1824 and a story tells that Beethoven had to be turned around to see the applause of the audience, since he didn't hear anything he wept.