Who has more best-known compositions, Hans Pfitzner or Ludwig van Beethoven?
Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven ( , ; ] ; baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and 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. 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".
Gerard Willems Gerard Willems AM (born Gerardus Maria Willems, 19 August 1946) is an Australian classical pianist and teacher. He was the first Australian pianist to record on CD the complete series of 32 piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven. He also recorded Beethoven's five piano concertos and the "Diabelli Variations", and is the only pianist to do so using an Australian Stuart & Sons piano. This series of recordings constitutes the largest classical music recording project ever undertaken in Australia, and Willems became the best selling classical artist in Australia's recording history.