Strife and struggle were constants in the composer's life. Born in 1770 in the German city of Bonn, Ludwig van Beethoven was by age ten considered the next Mozart. But throughout his life he was ...

Why We Still Want to Hear the ‘Ode to Joy,’ 200 Years Later Beethoven’s aspirational vision of unity and peace can be applied to virtually any situation or place. The music makes sure of that.