Ludwig van Beethoven was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and the composer Christian Gottlob Neefe.
Ludwig van Beethoven -LRB- -LSB- ˈlʊdvɪɡ væn ˈbeɪˌtoʊvən -RSB- , -LSB- ˈbeɪtˌhoʊvən -RSB- -LSB- ˈluːtvɪc fan ˈbeːtˌhoˑfn -RSB- ; baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827 -RRB- was a German composer and pianist .. composer. composer. pianist. pianist. 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 .. Classical. Classical period ( music ). Romantic. Romantic music. Western art music. classical music. 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 one opera , Fidelio .. symphonies. symphony. violin concerto. violin concerto. Mass. Mass ( music ). Missa solemnis. Missa solemnis ( Beethoven ). opera. opera. Fidelio. Fidelio. Born in Bonn , then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire , Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age and was taught by his father Johann van Beethoven and by composer and conductor Christian Gottlob Neefe .. Bonn. Bonn. Electorate of Cologne. Electorate of Cologne. Holy Roman Empire. Holy Roman Empire. composer. composer. Johann van Beethoven. Johann van Beethoven. Christian Gottlob Neefe. Christian Gottlob Neefe. At the age of 21 he moved to Vienna , where he began studying composition with Joseph Haydn and gained a reputation as a virtuoso pianist .. Vienna. Vienna. pianist. pianist. Joseph Haydn. Joseph Haydn. He lived in Vienna until his death .. Vienna. Vienna. By his late 20s his hearing began to deteriorate , and by the last decade of his life he was almost completely deaf .. In 1811 he gave up conducting and performing in public but continued to compose ; many of his most admired works come from these last 15 years of his life .