Immortal Beloved

Exactly 200 years ago yesterday, in a letter to his brothers which was later titled The Heiligenstadt Testament, Beethoven announced he had been stricken by deafness. This was the first time Beethoven's affliction became public, when in actuality, he had become deaf six years earlier. In his letter, Beethoven blamed his deafness for his moodiness, depression, and volatile temper. Beethoven's hearing loss brought on intense feelings of inadequacy which plagued him the rest of his life. He thought that he, above everyone else, should possess the ability to hear his own creations.