Beethovenfest贝多芬节

Classical music isn't for everyone. However, who hasn't heard of Ludwig van Beethoven? He was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770 and is remembered as one of the world's most famous composers. He showed talent at a very young age, and his father began teaching Beethoven music at home. In his 20s, Beethoven moved to Austria. He was hoping to learn from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but he studied under Joseph Haydn instead. He lived, worked, and enjoyed great success as a pianist and composer in the capital city of Vienna until his death in 1827.
Beethoven didn't have it easy in life because things took a turn for the worst. Tragedy struck when he was 30 years old. He slowly began to lose his hearing. Beethoven stopped talking with his friends and began to have written conversations in books. Beethoven ended up spending the last years of his life completely deaf. He stopped conducting and performing on the piano, but he continued to compose music from home. In fact, it was during this time that he created some of his most famous work. Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, and his Fifth and Ninth Symphonies are among his most popular pieces of music.

并非所有人都喜欢古典乐。然而，谁没听过路德维希·范·贝多芬？他於 1770 年在德国波昂出生，在大家心中他是世上最知名的作曲家之一。他在很小的年纪就展现音乐的才华，而贝多芬的父亲开始在家里教贝多芬音乐。贝多芬二十几岁时迁居奥地利。他原先希望能跟沃夫冈·阿玛迪斯·莫札特学习音乐，後来反而受教於?瑟夫·海顿。他在首都维也纳生活、工作、乐於当个相当成功的钢琴家及作曲家，直到 1827 年逝世。

贝多芬的人生过得并不轻松因为他的生活开始转坏。他三十岁那年悲剧发生了。他开始逐渐丧失听力。贝多芬不再和他的朋友说话，而把谈话内容写在书里。贝多芬最後几年完全聋了。他不再指挥及从事钢琴演奏，但他继续在家创作音乐。实际上，在那段时间里他创作出几件最著名的大作。他最受欢迎的音乐代表作有《给爱丽丝》、《月光奏鸣曲》、《第五交响曲》以及《第九交响曲》。

1. classical a. 传统的；古典的
   Max often listens to classical music at home.
   麦斯常在家里听古典乐。
2. instead adv. 作为代替
   If they are out of pork, buy beef instead.
   如果那家店猪肉卖完了，就买牛肉好了。
3. capital n. 首都，首府；资本，资金
   The government refused to inject any more capital into the industry.
   政府拒绝再投注任何资金到该产业中。
4. end up + 现在分词结果　到头来……
   Charles planned to go jogging, but he ended up watching TV at home all day.
   查尔斯本来计划去慢跑，结果他却整天在家里看电视。
5. perform vi. 表演，演出
   The crowds cheered when they saw David perform on stage.
   观众看到大卫在舞台上表演时都为之欢呼。
6. compose vt. 作（曲、诗等）
   The famous musician composed the theme song for the Olympics.
   那位知名的音乐作曲家为奥林匹克运动会写主题曲。
7. in fact事实上，实际上
   Pigs are, in fact, intelligent animals.
   事实上，猪是聪明的动物。
8. popular a. 受欢迎的
   The popular novel is based on historical events.
   这本受欢迎的小说是根据历史事件来写的。
   * historical a. 历史上的，有关历史的

1. composer n. 作曲家
2. tragedy n. 悲剧
3. deaf a. 耳聋的，失聪的
4. conduct vi. 指挥（乐队、军队等）
5. sonata n. 奏鸣曲
6. symphony n. 交响乐

take a turn for the worse开始恶化
本文中的片语 took a turn for the worse 表示『开始恶化』之意，take a turn for the better 则表示『开始好转』的意思。例∶
Sarah's marriage has taken a turn for the worse.
（莎拉的婚姻状况急转直下。）
The situation should take a turn for the better soon.
（情况应很快就会转好。）