Ludwig van Beethoven - ta-ta-ta-taaa

Why do we translate the opening of the 5th Symphony as fate knocking on the door? Who was the woman who became the most famous "Elise" in the world? Why did the "Missa Solemnis" fail to achieve its purpose? Why did the premiere of "Fidelio" turn into a disaster? This book traces Beethoven's life with anecdotal stories. He starts out as a child prodigy, has influential patrons, important teachers and falls out with all of them. When he travels from Bonn to Vienna, he misses his teacher of choice, Mozart. He was then taught by none other than Joseph Haydn, from whom, according to Beethoven, he "learned nothing at all". Vienna, however, became his new home. Years of sensational success in the musical capital of Europe are followed by periods of creative crisis and financial hardship. The manic worker is 28 when his hearing problems begin, 16 years later he is deaf. He is considered moody, lives in chaotic disorder, drinks, "harasses" the neighbours while composing at the piano at all hours of the day and especially at night, which means that he has to change his place of residence more than three dozen times within Vienna. He adores women and never marries. "A completely untamed personality", says Goethe after both encounters, but also: "More united, more energetic, more intimate I have never seen an artist". The "superstar of classical music" is being celebrated worldwide in the jubilee year of his 250th birthday - this book wants to contribute a few amusing bars of accompanying music.