BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, August 19, 1825

Beethoven, exasperated with housekeeper Barbara Holzmann, writes a letter from Baden, probably today, to Nephew Karl in Vienna (addressed to “Charles van Beethoven a Vienne“). The letter is not dated, but Beethoven writes “Today is Friday, tomorrow is Saturday,” possibly uncertain of the date. “Here comes Satanas — today her boiling rage and madness have subsided somewhat. Meanwhile — should she want to turn to you, refer her to my place the day after tomorrow [Sunday August 21, when Karl is expected in Baden]. The whole week I had to suffer like a saint and endure—away with this rabble; what a reproach to our culture this is, to need someone such as that, to have something which we today despise so much, so close to us. Tomorrow go with her about the seltzer water at the Caroline Gate, as before. If the small jugs be just as genuine [seltzer water] as the large ones, one could take those, but I believe it must be safer with the large one. Ce depend de votre Esprit votre distinction etc. [It depends on your spirit, your distinction, etc.]”

“Now farewell, dear son, make sure we keep the genuine, not artificially made, seltzer water. Go along with her, otherwise who knows what I could get.”

“Now farewell, dear little rascal, we are fairly fond of you. We expect you the day after tomorrow at 8 o’clock. Breakfast will not be missed, as long as it isn’t the late breakfast as usual — et au diable avec ce grands coquins de Neveux — alles vous en — soyés mon fils mon fils bien aime – adieu je vous baise votre pêre sincere comme toujours. [And to the devil with these great rascals of nephews – go away – be my son, my beloved son – farewell, I kiss you, sincerely as always your father.]”

Brandenburg Letter 2034; Anderson Letter 1404. The letter has the watermark of paper Beethoven used during the summer of 1825 while in Baden. The reference to seltzer water may be connected to an argument between Holzmann and a porter that Karl will relate on August 21. The reference to “late breakfast” [“Spätstück“] is a small joke on the German word for breakfast, “Frühstück,” which includes the word “früh,” or early. Beethoven will make this same joke again not long afterwards.