Is it illegal to download classical music like Beethoven which existed before the 1950s?

In general, classical music composed before 1923 is not protected by copyright in most countries and is considered to be in the public domain. This means that it is legal to download, share, and perform these works without permission or payment of royalties. However, it's important to note that some recordings of classical music may still be protected by copyright, so it's always a good idea to check the copyright status before downloading or distributing a particular recording.