Ludwig van Beethoven

             Ludwig van Beethoven (17 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) was a German composer. A crucial
   figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one
   of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies,
   5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa
   solemnis and an opera, Fidelio.