Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist whose music transformed the classical tradition and helped usher in the Romantic era. Renowned for works of extraordinary emotional power, originality and dramatic intensity, he expanded the possibilities of the symphony, concerto, chamber music and piano repertoire. Despite progressive hearing loss that eventually left him profoundly deaf, Beethoven continued to compose some of his greatest works, including the Eroica, Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, his late string quartets and the Missa solemnis. His music remains among the most influential and widely performed in the classical repertoire.