Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist known for his important role in the shift from the Classical to the Romantic period in music. He is still well recognized and has had a strong influence on many composers. Some of his most famous works include nine symphonies, five piano concertos, one violin concerto, thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets, a significant Mass called the Missa solemnis, and an opera named Fidelio. Beethoven was born in Bonn, which was then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne within the Holy Roman Empire. From a young age, he showed musical talent, receiving lessons from his father Johann van Beethoven and from Christian Gottlob Neefe, a composer and conductor. When he was 21, Beethoven moved to Vienna to study composition with Joseph Haydn and became known as a skilled pianist. He lived in Vienna for the remainder of his life. In his late twenties, Beethoven's hearing started to worsen, and in the final ten years of his life, he became almost completely deaf. Despite this challenge, he continued to compose music that remains highly valued today. Beethoven's work and life story continue to inspire many people around the world.