Learn what shaped Beethoven’s music through a series of short audio anecdotes from Lawrence Toppman’s collection of posts marking 250 years since Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. Topics include how he composed some of his greatest works as his hearing declined, why his greatest opera Fidelio had no memorable tunes, how he bombarded audiences with his genius to prove a point, and more.
What the Deaf Man Heard
Most think Beethoven went deaf relatively early, but new evidence suggests Beethoven might have retained partial hearing up to a year before his death.
