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    Beethoven

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    Beethoven's music: an introduction by John Suchet

    Given the relatively small number of compositions by Beethoven – compared to the output of his two great contemporaries Haydn and Mozart – they stand as the greatest body of music ever composed, says John Suchet.

    1. Beethoven

      1. Beethoven's music: The Symphonies

      The former British Prime Minister James Callaghan was asked late in his long life whether there was anything he regretted not achieving. He replied that he wished he could have written Beethoven’s nine symphonies. Picture: Thinkstock

    2. A portrait of Beethoven 1810

      2. Beethoven's music: The Piano Concertos

      Beethoven completed five Piano Concertos in under 20 years, but from the age of 38 he would never finish one again as his deafness stopped him from performing. Picture: Getty

    3. string quartet

      3. Beethoven's music: The String Quartets

      If Haydn is today called the ‘father’ of the String Quartet, and Mozart took the form to new heights, then Beethoven – characteristically – took hold of it and completely transformed it.

    4. Beethoven

      4. Beethoven's music: The Piano Sonatas

      Of all the musical genres, the Piano Sonata is the only one that Beethoven worked on more or less consistently throughout his life. No large gaps as with the Symphonies or String Quartets.

    5. Leonore opera, Beethoven

      5. Beethoven's music: The Opera

      Yes, just one. But what a gestation, what a struggle! It had begun life as the opera on which he agreed to collaborate with Schikaneder at the Theater an der Wien. Picture: Getty

    6. Violin and piano

      6. Beethoven's music: The Violin Concerto

      Surprisingly Beethoven only wrote one violin concerto and it proved so popular that he transcribed it for the piano too.

    7. Beethoven

      7. Beethoven's music: Archduke Trio

      Considered by many - including John Suchet - to be Beethoven's most beautiful Piano Trio, Archduke Trio marked a turning point in the composer's performing public life. Picture: Thinkstock

    8. Ludwig Van Beethoven and the Rasowmowsky Quartet

      8. Beethoven's music: Diabelli Variations

      Beethoven's Diabelli Variations is a monumental work that stands alongside Bach’s Goldberg Variations as one of the two greatest sets of variations for piano ever composed. Picture: Getty

    9. Ludwig van Beethoven handwritten partition

      9. Beethoven's music: Missa Solemnis

      One of Beethoven’s most daunting works, Missa Solemnis was described by a composer and critic more than a century ago as one of the greatest masterworks in the realm of music. Picture: Getty

    10. Beethoven portrait

      10. Beethoven's music: Egmont Overture

      A personal favourite of John Suchet's, Beethoven's Egmont Overture powerfully and beautifully tells the story of Count Egmont through Beethoven's exquisite music. Picture: Getty

    Beethoven News

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    Classical music cues cleaning in Taiwan

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

    Bad Beethoven t-shirt reviews

    Musicians are leaving savage reviews of this incorrect Beethoven Fifth t-shirt

    Discover Music

    Beethoven in 250 words.

    Beethoven at 250: famous figures share what his music means to them, in 250 words

    Beethoven Music

    See more Beethoven Music

    Beethoven art

    10 works of Beethoven that actually changed the world

    Beethoven Moonlight Sonata

    Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ Sonata: discover the 1801 piano masterpiece

    Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral')

    The remarkable story of Beethoven’s ‘Choral’ Symphony No. 9 and the ‘Ode to Joy’

    Beethoven Pictures

    See more Beethoven Pictures

    San Quentin Prison interior

    10 of the greatest composers who broke the law

    Beethoven composer letters

    Letters of the great composers: 14 moving, funny and inspiring quotations from the documents they left behind

    Discover Music

    Anna-Maria Mozart mother

    Famous composers' mothers

    Discover Music

    Beethoven Album Reviews

    See more Beethoven Album Reviews

    new releases 30th july

    New releases: Irnberger and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra play Beethoven and Rachmaninov with Martin Jones

    new releases 1st may

    New releases: Beethoven with the Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt and 'Strauss in St Petersburg'

    new releases 10th april

    New releases: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Brahms and Beethoven with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

    Beethoven Guides

    See more Beethoven Guides

    Ludwig van Beethoven and Nannette Streicher

    Meet Nannette Streicher, ‘the woman who built Beethoven’s pianos’

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    So if Beethoven was completely deaf, how did he compose?

    A step-by-step guide to Beethoven’s nine symphonie

    A step-by-step guide to Beethoven’s nine symphonies

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