Composer, 1770-1827
He’s the man behind classical music’s greatest da-da-da-daaa moment, a composer who addressed his music to all mankind, forging the melody for joy’s sparks of divinity. Ludwig van Beethoven’s letters are full of surprises. Often witty and almost always extremely blunt, he comes across as a tough business partner and an impetuous lover who is quick to feel insulted. Over the course of this Beethoven anniversary year, takt1 will be opening a broad selection of the composer’s letters, getting to know their sender in the process: Beethoven in his own words.