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The women in Beethoven's life
Beethoven may never married, but women had a huge influence and impact on his music and life. Read on to discover the women behind works including Moonlight Sonata and Eternally Beloved
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1. Nanette Streicher (1769-1833)
Beethoven first met Nanette Streicher, née Stein, when he was a boy of 16, returning from his abortive trip to Vienna in 1787 to see Mozart... Picture: Thinkstock
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2. Johanna van Beethoven (c.1784-1868)
Beethoven's brother Carl married Johanna Reiss on 25 May 1806, prompting Ludwig to write many years later, 'My brother's marriage was as much an indication of his immorality as of his folly'...
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3. Therese van Beethoven (1787-1828)
Beethoven's brother Johann, having moved to Linz in 1808 after buying his apothecary shop, lived in a house too large for his needs, and so decided to rent part of it out to a physician from Vienna... Picture: Getty
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4. Maria Magdalena van Beethoven (1746-87) Beethoven's mother
Maria Magdalena Keverich was the daughter of Heinrich Keverich, chief overseer of the kitchen at the palace of the Elector of Trèves at Ehrenbreitstein...
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5. Amalie Sebald (1787-1846)
Beethoven met singer Amalie Sebald in the spa town of teplitz and they quickly formed a firm friendship. Was it Amalie who inspired Immortal Beloved? Picture: Getty
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6. Josephine Brunsvik (1779-1821)
Beethoven first met Josephine and her sister Therese when the two visited Vienna with their mother in 1799. Later that year Josephine married Count Joseph Deym, but was widowed five years later...
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7. Antonie Brentano (1780 - 1869)
Antonie Brentano was almost certainly the Eternally Beloved, the only woman as far as we know ever to return Beethoven's love...
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8. Eleonore von Breuning (1771 - 1841)
Eleonore was the sister of Stephan von Breuning, and a member of the family in Bonn that did so much to help the young musician. Picture: Getty
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9. Therese Malfatti (1792-1851)
Like Giulietta Guicciardi, Therese Malfatti was a pupil of Beethoven's, and - as with Giulietta - he fell in love with her and decided to propose marriage to her. His plans came to naught, probably because of an extremely embarrassing incident.Picture: Getty
