Beethoven & Construction of Genius – Musical Politics in Vienna 1792 – 1803 (Paper)

This provocative book places the life and career of Ludwig van Beethoven within a social context, and reconceptualizes the notion of genius. DeNora recreates Vienna's robust musical scene through contemporary accounts, letters, magazines, and myths, exploring the changing world of late eighteenth-century musical culture. Comparing Beethoven to his contemporary rivals now long forgotten, DeNora contends that the recognition Beethoven received was as much a social achievement as it was the result of his personal gift, and casts many aspects of Beethoven's life in a new and different light, enriching our understanding of his success as a performer and composer.