Biography of Ludwig Van Beethoven

Eternal symphonies

17 December 1770 26 March 1827 it is probably the greatest composer of all times and places, a Titan of musical thought, whose artistic achievements have proved of incalculable magnitude. And maybe, in some moments of his work, even the term "music" is an understatement, there where the effort accomplished Transfiguration from genius appears to transcend the human feel. Born in Bonn (Germany) on 17 December 1770 Beethoven grew up in a family and cultural environment far from propitious. Her father was accused by historians to have been a clumsy drunk singer, capable only to squander the few gains can raise, and squeeze until the obsession the musical abilities of Ludwig, in hopes of obtaining another Mozart: low commercial exploitation gimmicks fortunately just managed. The mother, donna judicious, honest, humble but appears marked by a frail health before. He had seven children, four of whom died prematurely. The temperamentoso Ludwig is therefore soon thrown into the arena of survival, strong of his precocious talent. In nine starts for more regular studies with Christian Neefe, court organist at fourteen of Chapel organist of elector is already (the year before he loses his mother, an event which traumatizes) and shortly after, musician like his brother in music, playing in the orchestra of the theatre. In 1792 leave Bonn for the more lively Vienna, the city that more would have appreciated and where then would stop for the rest of his life. His abilities are based on intentional assaults to improvised piano alternating with slim so far unheard pleasures, shocking the audience. His works, first influenced by time classics (Haydn, Mozart) but already marked by overpowering personality, then increasingly bold and innovative, shake the lazy sway of artistic life, sow panic aesthetic, throw those who have ears and heart to hear, in the terrible depths of consciousness. While being idolized, primarily by the nobles of the time they compete to assure him annuities and see cover pages of the works presented in, although he writes music in his expressive needs and not according to commissions (first artist in history), with him a crack, a disconnect between artistic achievement and the public will become more and more overwhelming. The latest works written already in complete deafness are to testify, esoteric incunabula for composers to come. The worm auditory strikes at an early age, causing the suicide crisis and intensifying his proud detachment from the world, fruit not trivial contempt but the humiliation of not being able to enjoy the company of others easily. Only country walks give him some peace but over time, to communicate with you, friends will ask the questions in writing, building for posterity the famous "quaderni di conversation." Even love, searched among the noble of noble blood (attended his usual environment), was not propitious: perhaps ignorance on the part of loved ones, properties like Gazelles mesmerized in front of that indomitable Lion, or perhaps to insurmountable social prejudices, the noble not being able to pair with the bourgeois, with the humble servant of the seven notes. Looking forward to family warmth, found no better way to wring it forced his nephew Karl, his father died, then led back to his uncle's suicide from the suffocating attentions, fortunately missed in unseemly competition with the birth mother. On 7 may 1824, in Vienna, Beethoven appears in public for the last time, for the hearing of his famous "Ninth Symphony". The audience bursts into applause. Sitting next to the conductor, his back turned to the audience, the composer browse the sheet music, materially inhibited to feel what he himself has given birth. Have to force him to turn around so she can see the immense success of his work. On 26 March 1827 cedes to the ills that haunt him from time (gout, rheumatism, liver cirrhosis), raise a fist to the sky, according to a popular romantic image, and died of dropsy. His funeral is one of the most colossal ever organized, the entire city is astonished. In a corner, between the funeral orations of Grillparzer and eminent representatives of politics and culture, an anonymous figure and brooding, having elected the genius of Bonn to his tutelary deity, observes the scene: it is Franz Schubert. Reaches the year after, just 31 years old, pretending to be buried there next.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.