Ludwig van Beethoven

1770–1827

Nationality: German

Historical Period: The 19th Century

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was one of the great European classical composers of the first half of the 19th century. He wrote a number of politically inspired works including an opera Fidelio which had as one of its themes the issue of individual liberty.

• Author: Beethoven’s Opera Fidelio. German Text, with an English Translation