Beethoven's Eroica

Never underestimate the impact of Beethoven’s “Heroic” Symphony. When it premiered, it startled audiences with its length, originality, and the revolutionary way in which the composer pushed the limits of musical conventions without breaking them. This marked the true start of Beethoven’s genius — and no one had ever heard anything like it before. The composer originally titled the piece "Bonaparte" out of admiration for the French hero, but when Napoleon declared himself emperor, Beethoven flew into a rage and retitled it simply “Eroica,” meaning “Heroic.”