Beethoven

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The two-hundredth anniversary of Beethoven's birth prompts an extensive review of his life and career, highlighting his embodiment of the conventional genius archetype: the solitary outsider and passionate creator ahead of his time. His life coincided with a turbulent period in European history, and his music bridged classicism and romanticism. This restless and oversensitive figure found true fulfillment in his art, earning recognition as a blazing genius among his contemporaries. The book features illustrations and documents that vividly depict Beethoven's background, the world he inhabited, his friends and patrons, the women he loved, and the places he visited. New research reveals many previously unpublished paintings and portraits, some presented in color for the first time. It includes extensive extracts from Beethoven's letters and conversation-books, alongside contemporary diaries, letters, and newspaper notices, which offer insight into his personality, piano-playing, conducting, and musical ideas. Additionally, there are reproductions of his scores, including new discoveries in autograph and first edition formats. This work serves as both a portrait of a unique man and a documentary representation of his era, appealing to all who appreciate great music.