In a glimmering salon, Ludwig van Beethoven played the piano. The audience sat mesmerized. Never had they heard music performed with such emotion and strength. As Ludwig glanced at them, he felt extremely proud. He was the best pianist in Vienna, perhaps the best in all of Europe. Ludwig wrote music that showcased his talent, and when he played, women swooned and men cheered. The wealthy paid him large sums of money to perform in their homes. It seemed he had everything: talent, fame, money.

No one suspected that the great Ludwig van Beethoven also had a troubling secret--he was slowly going deaf. It was getting more and more difficult for him to play the piano. Without his hearing his career, fame, and fortune would soon come to an end.