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    Piano Concerto No.5 in Eb major Opus 73 (2/3) Ludwig Van Beethoven Download 'Piano Concerto No.5 in Eb major Opus 73 (2/3)' on iTunes

    Piano Concerto No.5 in Eb major Opus 73 (2/3) artwork
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    Beethoven

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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

    1. Augsburg, near Bonn, Germany

      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

    2. Beethoven memorial Vienna

      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'...

    3. Gneixendorf, Beethoven family home

      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

    4. Maria Magdalena Keverich Beethoven's mother

      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...

    5. Amalie Sebald

      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

    6. Josephine Brunsvik

      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...

    7. Antonie Brentano

      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...

    8. Beethoven's birthplace, Bonn

      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

    9. Manuscript music Beethoven

      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

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