Among all of history's greatest musicians, few have been as admired or influential as ludwig van beethoven, whose name remains synonymous with composing. Works like his fifth and ninth symphonies remain instantly recognizable over 200 years after they were composed, and their sweeping and grandiose nature are made all the more amazing by the fact that their author was gradually going deaf and couldn't hear music very well by the time he was composing them. Similarly, the "e;moonlight sonata"e; and "e;fur elise"e; are renowned across the world and are some of the most famous piano pieces of all time. Inside you ll read about Early years of prodigy The grand tour 1763-66 Setbacks and success in vienna The solo trip to italy Salzburg to vienna Augsburg, mannheim, paris, and munich Munich and idomeneoThe dramatic ups and downs of mozart s life are also ripe for use in various artistic mediums, and the sensationalized account of his life has become a cornerstone of popular culture. He had an exciting career as a child prodigy, a highly theatrical and dramatic exit from the court of salzburg, and an ambitious thirst for recognition that drove him to the farthest courts of europe in search of wealth and fame. He struggled nancially both in his early years as a child performer and even more seriously in the years leading up to his early and sudden death.