Beethoven was angry He rsquo d intended to name his Third Symphony ldquo The Bonaparte rdquo In an age of religious and political tyranny he saw Napoleon as a hero of the people and champion of freedom But when the French general declared himself emperor the celebrated composer changed his mind Denouncing his former hero as a rascal and tyrant he rubbed so hard to erase Bonaparte rsquo s name that he left a hole in the original score Early believers in Jesus must have been disappointed when their hopes of political reform were dashed He had stirred such hopes [... more]