“There are plenty of Americans who understand and appreciate great composers like Beethoven, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Bach and Mozart, but something must be wrong with a nation that year after year produces crap like the music of 50 Cent, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.”
Humanity topped out with Mozart.
After Mozart wrote his unfinished Requiem, its been downhill ever since.
The torch that Mozart dropped was picked up and raised by Beethoven.
True but he was guilty of using too many notes on occasion. :) And this clip from Amadeus never ever gets old. Likewise from that film, Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor KV 466 is a favorite and, in my mind, represents a high point in Western culture.