Eroica refers to Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, also known as the "Eroica Symphony." It was initially called the "Bonaparte" Symphony as Beethoven originally dedicated it to Napoleon Bonaparte, but he later changed the title due to Bonaparte declaring himself Emperor. The term "eroica" generally signifies heroic or heroic in nature.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Beethoven work once called the "Bonaparte" Symphony. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.