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    Symphony No.1 in Bb major Opus 38 (2) Robert Schumann Download 'Symphony No.1 in Bb major Opus 38 (2)' on iTunes

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    Composers

    Beethoven

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    Beethoven’s temper and Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’

    This image appears in the gallery:
    Beethoven: Compositions, biography, siblings and more facts

    Eroica dedication to Napoleon

    15. Beethoven’s temper and Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’

    Beethoven admired the ideals of the French Revolution, so he dedicated his third symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte… until Napoleon declared himself emperor. Beethoven then sprung into a rage, ripped the front page from his manuscript and scrubbed out Napoleon’s name. Some modern reproductions of the original title page have scrubbed out Napoleon’s name to create a hole for authenticity’s sake!

    1. Image 1: Beethoven Haus Bonn
    2. Image 2: Ludwig's father Johann van Beethoven
    3. Image 3: Beethoven's brother
    4. Image 4: music manuscript violin
    5. Image 5: classical piano
    6. Image 6: Count Waldstein
    7. Image 7: Vienna
    8. Image 8: Bach's well tempered clavier
    9. Image 9: young Beethoven
    10. Image 10: Hofftheatre Vienna 21 images

    See the full gallery: Beethoven: Compositions, biography, siblings and more facts

    Beethoven latest

    See more Beethoven latest

    Classical music cues cleaning in Taiwan

    Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’ alerts Taiwanese residents to take out their trash

    Can you believe these EIGHT classical masterpieces nearly didn’t exist?

    Can you believe these eight classical masterpieces nearly didn’t exist?

    Discover Music

    Largest string orchestra world record,  Recklinghausen, Germany

    1,350 musicians break world record for largest string orchestra with immense ‘Ode to Joy’

    Scientific reconstruction reveals Beethoven’s ‘true’ face 200 years after his death

    Scientific reconstruction reveals Beethoven’s ‘true’ face 200 years after his death

    18-year-old pianist Zak plays Beethoven and Chopin medley at Sheffield train station

    18-year-old pianist stuns with original Beethoven and Chopin medley at Sheffield train station

    Discover Music

    Great classical music. Pictured: Gustavo Dudamel, Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall, and cellist Margarita Balanas

    10 pieces of classical music everyone should know

    Discover Music

    Yuja Wang plays a piano with three pedals – but what are they for?

    Why do pianos have three pedals, and what do they do?

    Discover Music

    Stephen Schwartz, composer of Wicked.

    ‘I just stole it from Beethoven’: Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz on how he wrote ‘Defying Gravity’

    Young boy conducts in the Carlo Felice Theatre

    Conductor dad sits his son on the podium, who reveals his incredible baton skills

    Videos

    Peter Schickele Beethoven 5 parody

    PDQ Bach delivered the ultimate classical music and sport parody in this Beethoven performance

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Discover Music

    Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

    The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

    Discover Music

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    Discover Music

    A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

    The 25 greatest conductors of all time

    Discover Music

    Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

    The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

    Latest on Classic FM

    Howard Shore’s score to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ has been crowned No.1 in the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2026.

    ‘The Lord of the Rings’ crowned UK’s favourite film score in 25th anniversary year

    The 2025 winners of the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards, with hosts Dan Walker and Myleene Klass at Classic FM Live.

    Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2026: vote for the Lifetime Achievement Winner!

    Events

    210 tiny Mozart statuettes have gone missing from a display in Salzburg.

    The magic loot - 210 tiny golden Mozarts vanish from Salzburg display

    Mozart

    Yuja Wang is the star of a new, upcoming documentary, ‘YUJA’.

    Grammy Award-winning pianist Yuja Wang stars in new documentary, ‘YUJA’

    Yuja Wang

    Andrea Bocelli is giving his first-ever headline concert in Wales.

    Andrea Bocelli announces first-ever headline concert in Wales

    Win

    A-level music has fallen to a new record low, as almost half of UK adults regret not continuing musical activity.

    One in three adults regret giving up music, as A-level entries plummet

    Donald Trump has declared tubas, trombones, trumpets, and French horns a national security threat.

    Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

    John Malkovich plays Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache in new biopic ‘The Yellow Tie’.

    Watch John Malkovich as conductor Sergiu Celibidache in new biopic trailer

    Discover Music

    John Cage ASLSP performance

    A 639-year-long John Cage organ piece just changed chord, for the first time in two-and-a-half years

    A new staging of Wagner’s ‘The Ring’ Cycle has been heavily criticised for use of AI staging.

    Wagner opera’s AI backdrop meets loud boos at Bayreuth Festival

    Discover Music

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