Beethoven is lionized as a composer and artist. His music is treated with a reverence that can sometimes hide the intellect and passion he intended to convey to the audiences of his era.

Ludwig van Beethoven and the piano were two of the most exciting new qualities of music in the 18th century and both are showcased in his Sonata Op.13 No.8 in C minor, Pathétique, first movement.

Beethoven’s renown in his own day was not just as a composer but also as an improvising pianist. He wrote in a letter in July ...

Ludwig van Beethoven and the piano were two of the most exciting new qualities of music in the 18th century and both are showcased in his Sonata Op.13 No.8 in C minor, Pathétique, first movement.

Try 1,000 years of music in this playlist from NPR Classical's Tom Huizenga ... Our mantra: Bach, Beethoven, before and beyond.