BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Friday, May 24, 1822

Johann Friedrich Rochlitz (1769-1842) arrives in Vienna today, according to the May 28, 1822 Wiener Zeitung. A musicologist, playwright and critic, Rochlitz was the founding editor of the long-running Leipzig Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (not to be confused with the journal of the same name published in Vienna.) Considered the foremost German-language music periodical of its time, it reviewed musical performances occurring throughout Europe, and even some in America. The Leipzig AMZ published important critical works, such as E.T.A. Hoffmann’s thorough review and analysis of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Although Rochlitz gave up editorial duties in 1818, Beethoven certainly would have been familiar with his writing. During Rochlitz’ stay in Vienna, he will get to know both Beethoven and Schubert.

The Artaria firm, anxious to get ahead of its piratical rivals in publishing popular editions of Rossini operas for home entertainment, today announces in the Wiener Zeitung the complete opera Zelmira in vocal and piano score. Previous advertisements indicated the finale was not yet available but was coming soon. In addition, the entire opera for solo piano, without words, arranged by Maximilian Joseph Leidesdorf (1787-1840) is now available. The lightning speed of the arrangement and engraving is impressive. Artaria also announces the availabity of editions of other Rossini operas: Corradino (Mathilde), Elisabetta, La Gazza ladra, Il Turco in Italia, Il Barbiere di Seviglia, L’Ingano felice and Otello, all with German and Italian texts.