Premiere of Beethoven's Fidelio

Date: November 20, 1805 • Location: Vienna, Austria

Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, premieres in Vienna.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A seminal figure in the history of music, his personal style was a key driver of the transition from Classical to Romantic music. He expanded instrumental forms such as the symphony, the piano sonata, and the string quartet. Beethoven is widely revered as one of the greatest composers of all time, and his compositions are among the most performed in the world.