Both his father and grandfather were musicians but the family was very poor. Although Ludwig had little general education he managed to study piano, organ, violin and viola. He was so talented that in 1784, aged fourteen, he was made assistant to his teacher as the court organist at Hanover. Eventually and in order to make a living he taught, and played viola in the opera orchestra. In 1792 he returned to Vienna and took some lessons by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). After the age of thirty he suffered from a progressive loss of hearing, and by his mid-forties he was almost deaf. He was so popular in Vienna that about ten thousand people attended his funeral. "Viennese were conscious of Beethoven's greatness: they applauded the Choral Symphony, even though, understandably, they found it difficult, and though baffled by the late quartets they sensed their extraordinary visionary qualities."

* Must have

Bagatelles for piano, Op 33, Op 119, Op 126
- BEETHOVEN Bagatelles Op. 33 Op. 119 Op. 126 Allegretto Op. 53 Klavierstuck wo0 60 Rondo Op. 
   51 No. 1. Alfred Brendel. Philips (4560312) €17
- BEETHOVEN Piano Variations, Bagatelles. Alfred Brendel. Brilliant Classics 5cds (93183) €15

* Cello Sonatas nos 1-5
- BEETHOVEN Complete Works for Piano & Cello. Adrian Brendel, Alfred Brendel. Philips 2cds 
   (4753792) €17
- BEETHOVEN Cello Sonatas Op. 5 Nos. 1 & 2, Op. 69, Op. 102 Nos. 1 & 2. Pierre Fournier, 
   Wilhelm Kempff DG 2cds (4530132) €17
- BEETHOVEN The 5 Cello Sonatas Rostropovich, Richter Philips50 2cds (4646772) €17
- BEETHOVEN Cello Sonatas Lynn Harrell, Barry Tuckwell, Vladimir Ashkenazy Decca 2cds 
   (4667332) €17

Fidelio, opera (commenced 1803, last revision 1814), Op 72
- BEETHOVEN Fidelio Hildegard Behrens, Lucia Popp, James King, Donald McIntyre, Kurt Moll, 
   Karl Bohm Orfeo 2cds (C560012I) €25
- BEETHOVEN Fidelio. Martha Modl, Wolfgang Windgassen, Gottlob Frick, Otto Edelmann, Sena 
   Jurinac, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Wilhelm Furtwangler. Rec. 
    1953. Naxos Historical 2cds (8111020-21) €15
- BEETHOVEN Fidelio. Ludwig, Vickers, Frick, Berry, Hallstein, Unger, Crass, Philharmonic Chorus 
   & Orchestra / Klemperer EMI 2cds Great Recordings of the Century (5673642) €25

Great Fugue in Bb for violins, viola and cello, Op 133
- BEETHOVEN Grosse Fuge in B flat Op. 133 Mozart Serenade in G K525, Eine kleine Nachtmusik 
   Adagio and Fugue in C minor K546, Serenade in D K239 Serenata notturna. Philharmonia / 
   Klemperer. EMI Historical (3773642) €9
- BEETHOVEN The String Quartets - 7 (New Recordings): Op.130 & Grosse Fugue Op.133 The 
   Lindsays ASV (CDDCA1117) €17
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 & Grosse Fuge Op.133, Corolian Overture. Vienna Philharmonic, 
   Berlin Philharmonic / Wilhelm Furtwangler. Archipel (ARPCD0238) €8

* Missa Solemnis in D major, Op 123
- BEETHOVEN Missa solemnis. Studer, Norman, Domingo, Moll, Leipziger Rundfunkchor 
   Schwedischer Rundfunkchor, Eric-Ericson-Kammerchor, Wiener Phlharmoniker / James Levine. DG 
   2cds (4357702) €27
- BEETHOVEN Missa Solemnis. Gundula Janowitz, Christa Ludwig, Fritz Wunderlick, Walter Berry, 
   Wiener Singverein, Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan. MOZART Krongsmesse. DG 
    2cds (4530162) €17
- BEETHOVEN Missa Solemnis Soderstrom Hoffgen Kmentt Talvela New Philharmonia Chorus & 
   Orchestra / Klemperer EMI Great Recordings of the Century (5675462) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphony 7, Missa Solemnis, MOZART Sym.35 CHERUBINI Overture: Anacreon 
   Milanov, Thorborg, Pataky, Moscona, BBC SO & Chorus / Toscanini BBC Legends 2cds 
   (BBCL40162) €24

* Overtures
- BEETHOVEN 9 Symphonies, Overtures: Egmont, Leonore III, Fidelio, Coriolan, Die Geschopfe des 
  Prometheus, Die Ruinen von Athen. Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Baltsa, Schreier, Jose van Dam, Weiner 
  Singverein, Berliner Philharmoniker / Karajan DG 6cds (4290892) €75 [1971 cycle]
- BEETHOVEN Complete Overtures, 12 Minuets, 12 German Dances, 12 Contredanses. 
  Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Kurt Masur, Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville 
   Marriner. Philips 2cds (4387062) €17
- BEETHOVEN Overtures. Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Elatus 
  (2564617792) €13

* Piano Concertos nos 1-5
- BEETHOVEN Complete Concertos Vol. 1, Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4, 2 Romances, Op. 40 & Op. 50, 
   Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra / Davis, Grumiaux, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / 
   Haitink Philips 2cds (4425772) €17
- BEETHOVEN Complete Concertos Vol. 2, Piano Concertos No. 0 & No. 5 Emperor, Triple 
   Concerto, Violin Concerto, Kovacevich, LSO / Davis, Starker, NPO / Inbal, Krebbers, RCO / 
    Haitink, Grychtolowna, Folkwan. 2cds  (4425802) €17
- BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 Murray Perahia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Bernard 
   Haitink Sony 3cds (S3K44575) €38
- BEETHOVEN The Five Piano Concertos Alfred Brendel Vienna PHO / Rattle Philips 3cds 
   (4627812) €51
- BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Chamber Orchestra of Europe / 
   Nikolaus Harnoncourt Teldec 3cds (0927473342) €34
- BEETHOVEN Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 Wilhelm Kempff, BPO, Kempen. DG The Rosette 
   Collection 3cds (4765299) €38
- BEETHOVEN The 5 Piano Concertos. Mitsuko Uchida, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, 
   Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks / Kurt Sanderling. Philips 3cds (4756757) €24

Piano Quartets No 1-3 in Eb: D: C, Op 152
- BEETHOVEN The String Quartets - 2 (New Recordings): Op.18 Nos. 4 & 5 / Op.14 (Arr. of Piano 
   Sonata) The Lindsays ASV (CDDCA1112) €17

* Piano Sonatas nos 1-32
- BEETHOVEN Complete Piano Sonatas Richard Goode Nonesuch 10cds (7559793282) €94
- BEETHOVEN The 32 Piano Sonatas. Wilhelm Backhaus. Decca 8cds (4757198) €62
- BEETHOVEN The 32 Piano Sonatas Wihelm Kempff DG 9cds (4479662) €70
- BEETHOVEN Complete Piano Sonatas & Concertos Claudio Arrau, Royal Concertgebouw 
   Orchestra / Haitink Philips 14cds (4623582) €86

Piano Trios, in Eb: G: Cm, Op 1 (Three)
- BEETHOVEN The Piano Trios Beaux Arts Trio Philips 5cds (4684112) €40
- BEETHOVEN Complete Piano Trios. Guarneri Trio Prague: Ivan Klansky, Cenek Pavlik, Marek 
   Jerie, with Pascal Moragues. Praga 5cds (PRD350011) €54

* String Quartets nos 1-16
- BEETHOVEN Complete String Quartets. Budapest Quartet. United Archives 8cds (UAR001-8) €36
- BEETHOVEN The String Quartets, Complete. Emerson String Quartet DG 7cds (4470752) €100
- BEETHOVEN Complete String Quartets Vegh Quartet Rec.1952 Music & Arts 7cds (CD1084) €50

String Quintet in Eb, Op 4
- BEETHOVEN String Quintets. The Zurich String Quartet. Duet for viola and cello WoO 32; sechs 
   landlerische Tanze for 2 violins, cello; double-bass WoO 15 etc. Brilliant Classics 2cds (92857) €11

String Trios, in G: D: Cm, Op 9 (Three)
- BEETHOVEN The String Trios op. 3, op. 8, op. 9 Nos. 1-3 Trio Italiano d'Archi DG 2cds (4594662) 
   €17
- BEETHOVEN String Trios Opp.3, 8 & 9 Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Lynn Harrell EMI 2cds 
   (7541982) €26
- BEETHOVEN The String Trios Op. 3, 8 & 9 Nos. 1-3. Anne-Sophie Mutter, Bruno Giuranna, 
   Mstislav Rostropovich DG 2cds Import (E4276872) €34

* Symphonies 1-9
- BEETHOVEN 9 Symphonies, Overtures: Egmont, Leonore III, Fidelio, Coriolan, Die Geschopfe des 
  Prometheus, Die Ruinen von Athen. Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Baltsa, Schreier, Jose van Dam, Weiner 
  Singverein, Berliner Philharmoniker / Karajan DG 6cds (4290892) €75 [1971 cycle]
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 1-9 Berlin Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan DG 5cds (4630882) 
   €39 [1963 cycle]
- WALTER, BRUNO Beethoven Symphonies. New York and Philadelphia Orchestras. Music & Arts 
   6cds (CD1137) €62
- BEETHOVEN The Complete Symphonies Columbia Symphony Orchestra / Bruno Walter Sony 
   Columbia Legends 5cds (SM5K87328) €45
- BEETHOVEN Complete Symphonies Philadelphia Orchestra / Riccardo Muti EMI 6cds (5729232) 
   €27
- BEETHOVEN The Complete Symphonies. Cleveland Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnanyi. Telarc 
   5cds (CD80200) €37
- BEETHOVEN The 9 Symphonies Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich / David Zinman Arte Nova 5cds 
   (74321654102) €30
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 1-9 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Abbado DG 5cds (4690002) 
   €68
- BEETHOVEN The 9 Symphonies Gwyneth Jones, Hanna Schwarz, Rene Kollo, Kurt Moll 
   Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsoper / Wiener Philharmoniker / Leonard Bernstein DG 5cds 
   (4749242) €40
- BEETHOVEN Complete Symphonies 1-9 Chamber Orchestra of Europe / Nikolaus Harnoncourt 
   Teldec 5cds (0927497682) €38
- BEETHOVEN The Symphonies Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Simon Rattle EMI 5cds (5574452) 
   €63

Symphony No 1 in C major
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 1 & 8, *Grosse Fuge. Philharmonia Orchestra, *New Philharmonia 
   Orchestra / Otto Klemperer. Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall. Testament (SBT1405) €15

Symphony No 2 in D, Op 36
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer. Recorded live at 
   the Royal Festival Hall. Testament (SBT1406) €15
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer EMI (5667942) €13

Symphony No 3, Eroica, Op 55
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 Eroica Leonore Overture Nos. 1 & 2 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto 
   Klemperer EMI (5677402) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies 3, 5, 6 & 7 Fritz Reiner RCA 2cds (74321886812) €17
- BEETHOVEN The Great Symphonies, Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9. Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna 
   Philharmonic etc. / Erich Kleiber 1947-1954. Andromeda 3cds (ANDRCD5001) €17

Symphony No 4 in Bb, Op 60
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5, Egmont Overture. Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer. 
   Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall. Testament ( SBT1407) €15
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 MAHLER Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen SCHUMANN Sym.4 
   Christa Ludwig, Vienna Philharmonic / Karl Bohm Orfeo (C522991B) €13

Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5, Egmont Overture. Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer. 
   Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall. Testament ( SBT1407) €15
- BEETHOVEN Symphony Nos. 5 & 7 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer EMI (5678512) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer EMI (5667942) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies 3, 5, 6 & 7 Fritz Reiner RCA 2cds (74321886812) €17
- BEETHOVEN The Great Symphonies, Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9. Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna 
   Philharmonic etc. / Erich Kleiber 1947-1954. Andromeda 3cds (ANDRCD5001) €17

Symphony No 6 in F, Pastoral, Op 68
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral' Overtures 'Coriolan' & 'Prometheus' Brigit Nilsson 
   Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer EMI (5679652) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No.6 SCHUBERT Symphony No.5 Wiener Philharmoniker/ Karl Bohm 
   DG Originals (4474332) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies 3, 5, 6 & 7 Fritz Reiner RCA 2cds (74321886812) €17
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 6, 8 & 9 Armstrong, Reynolds, Tear, Shirley-Quirk, New 
   Philharmonia Orchestra, LSO / Carlo Maria Giulini EMI Gemini 2cds (5854902) €13
- BEETHOVEN The Great Symphonies, Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9. Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna 
   Philharmonic etc. / Erich Kleiber 1947-1954. Andromeda 3cds (ANDRCD5001) €17

Symphony No 7 in A, Op 92
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer. Recorded live at 
   the Royal Festival Hall. Testament (SBT1406) €15
- BEETHOVEN Symphony Nos. 5 & 7 Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer EMI (5678512) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies 3, 5, 6 & 7 Fritz Reiner RCA 2cds (74321886812) €17
- BEETHOVEN The Great Symphonies, Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9. Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna 
   Philharmonic etc. / Erich Kleiber 1947-1954. Andromeda 3cds (ANDRCD5001) €17
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 & 9 VPO (7), Cleveland Orch (8), Bayreuth Festival Orch (9) / 
   Kubelik DG 2cds Import (E4594632) €17

Symphony No 8 in F, Op 93
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 1 & 8, *Grosse Fuge. Philharmonia Orchestra, *New Philharmonia 
   Orchestra / Otto Klemperer. Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall. Testament (SBT1405) €15
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 6, 8 & 9 Armstrong, Reynolds, Tear, Shirley-Quirk, New 
   Philharmonia Orchestra, LSO / Carlo Maria Giulini EMI Gemini 2cds (5854902) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 & 9 VPO (7), Cleveland Orch (8), Bayreuth Festival Orch (9) / 
   Kubelik DG 2cds Import (E4594632) €17

Symphony No 9, Choral, Op 125 (1817 23)
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 Choral Nordmo-Lovberg, Ludwig, Kmennt, Hotter, Philharmonia 
   Chorus & Orchestra / Klemperer Testament (SBT1177) €15
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 Prometheus Overture Aase Nordmo-Lovberg, Christa Ludwig, 
   Waldemar Kmennt, Hans Hotter, Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra / Otto Klemperer EMI (5667972) 
   €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9. Margarete Teschemacher, Elisabeth Hongen, Torsten Ralf, Josef 
   Herrmann. Staatskapelle Dresden / Karl Bohm. Profil (PH06035) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonie No. 9. Norman, Fassbaender, Domingo, Berry, Konzertvereingung, 
  Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker / Karl Bohm DG (4455032) €13
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 6, 8 & 9 Armstrong, Reynolds, Tear, Shirley-Quirk, New 
   Philharmonia Orchestra, LSO / Carlo Maria Giulini EMI Gemini 2cds (5854902) €13
- BEETHOVEN The Great Symphonies, Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9. Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna 
   Philharmonic etc. / Erich Kleiber 1947-1954. Andromeda 3cds (ANDRCD5001) €17
- BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 & 9 VPO (7), Cleveland Orch (8), Bayreuth Festival Orch (9) / 
   Kubelik DG 2cds Import (E4594632) €17

Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op 120 (thirty three)
- BEETHOVEN Diabelli Variations Piotr Anderszewski Virgin (5454682) €17
- BEETHOVEN Piano Works Volume 11: Diabelli Variations, Bagatelles Op.126, Rondo a capriccio. 
   Artur Schnabel Rec.1937. Naxos Historical (8110765) €9
- BEETHOVEN Piano Variations, Bagatelles. Alfred Brendel. Brilliant Classics 5cds (93183) €15

Violin Concerto
- BRAHMS / BEETHOVEN Violin Concertos Jascha Heifetz, NBC SO / Toscanini (Rec.1939, 1940) 
   Naxos Historical (8110936) €9
- BEETHOVEN / TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concertos Bronislaw Huberman, VPO / Szell (1934), 
   Berlin State Opera Orchestra / Steinberg (1928) Naxos Historical (8110903) €9
- BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto, Romances Nos. 1 & 2 Yehudi Menuhin, Philharmonia Orchestra, 
   New Philharmonia Orchestra / Otto Klemperer, John Pritchard EMI (7643242) €13
- BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto Itzhak Perlman Philharmonia Orchestra / Carlo Maria Giulini EMI 
   (5669002) €13

* Violin Sonatas nos 1-10
- BEETHOVEN / SCHUMANN / BRAHMS Violin Sonatas Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich, Valery 
   Afanassiev, Oleg Maisenberg DG 8cds (4746482) €60
- BEETHOVEN The Complete Violin Sonatas Aaron Rosand VOX 3cds (CDX33503) €27
- Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827) Violinsonaten Nr. 1-10 Wolfgang Scheiderhan, Wilhelm 
   Kempff. DGG [2182496] €30
- BEETHOVEN The Ten Sonatas for Piano & Violin. Joseph Szigeti, Claudio Arrau. Rec.1953. 
   Vanguard 4cds (ATMCD1585) €35
- BEETHOVEN The Violin Sonatas. Clara Haskill, Arthur Grumiaux. Decca 3cds (4758460) €24
- BEETHOVEN The Complete Violin Sonatas. Arthur Grumiaux, Clara Haskil. Brilliant 3cds (93329) 
   €13
- BEETHOVEN The Violin Sonatas Ann-Sophie Mutter, Lambert Orkis DG 4cds (4576192) €68
- BEETHOVEN The Complete Violin Sonatas, A life with Beethoven Anne Sophie Mutter, Lambert 
   Orkis DG 2DVDs NTSC (0730149) €43

Complete Works
- BEETHOVEN Complete Beethoven Edition. Deutsche Grammophon 87cds in 20Vols
- BEETHOVEN Complete Works. Alfred Brendel, Till Fellner, Heinrich Schiff, Clara Haskil, Arthur Grumiaux, Henryk Szeryng. Brilliant 85cds (93525) €85
- BEETHOVEN Complete Edition. Recordings date from 1987-2007. Cascade 87cds (CAS02200) €80