Why is Beethoven considered the first Romantic?

Who is saying that Beethoven is the first Romantic? Musical style is always changing, although the pace of change is slower at times and faster at other times. read more

Bruckner & Brahms are certainly Romantic composers (but Brahms was ALSO deeply classical). I think Beethoven was the culmination of Classical, and the original Romantic as well. But I'd say Weber was the first COMPLETELY Romantic composer. And one can find Romantic elements in Bach, Haydn and Mozart. read more

Perhaps the first romantic composer was Berlioz, with early works (written only two or three years after Beethoven's death) like Symphony Fantastique telling stories and describing scenes. The Hammerklavier is in Beethoven's late style - unique - neither classical or romantic, nobody really attempted to imitate this style or take it any further (if that was ever, indeed, possible). read more

He is widely considered as among the most important composers, and along with Bach and Mozart, his music is the most frequently recorded. Beethoven's stylistic innovations bridge the Classical and Romantic periods. read more