BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, June 2, 1826

The new housekeeper, Elise Seidl, starts work today for Beethoven. The first order of business is shopping. She has Beethoven take a look at the pantry with her, so they can go through and see what is needed and she will go shopping.

Since the most recent kitchen maid was given two weeks’ notice on May 19, and will be Beethoven’s service tomorrow, Seidl asks whether Beethoven has already hired a maid, or whether she should bring one. A prospective maid, Marie Stiegel, has been sent by the bread seller, and is interviewed by Seidl. Stiegel lives in Neubau. [Stiegel will end up in Beethoven’s service for longer than most servants other than Barbara Holzmann.]

Seidl says she will go into the city and buy what is needed for today, only some plates and butter for tomorrow, and chicken eggs so that they have something in the house. “And please, how much do you eat?”

Seidl offers a potential menu for the shopping:

Herbal soups
Beef with 2 sauces
Side dish asparagus
Pickled brain
A whole roast or chicken

[For supper:]
Schnitzel from brisket
Chop

Beethoven suggests a loin roast. She says that’s too big, unless she can get one of the best kind, which can be had in a smaller 3 pound size. She asks if he wants it stuffed.

Beethoven inquires about what game might be in season. She tells him that at the wild game market, the Wildpretmarkt, there is nothing but quails and venison right now.

Conversation Book 111, 51r-52r.

Carl Maria von Weber, living in London at the home of Sir George Smart, suddenly takes a turn for the worse with his tuberculosis, and is confined to his bed starting today.