BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, December 20, 1824

Beethoven makes a note that vinegar is available at 986 Annagasse. He probably spends the morning proofreading the subscription score of the Missa Solemnis that was finished by copyist Ferdinand Wolanek late last night.

Nephew Karl comes by the apartment this afternoon. Many of the entries for today are unclear; we have made our best guess [in brackets] as to what is being discussed by Karl and Uncle Ludwig.

There is some discussion about an unidentified woman who is staying with her cousin. [Probably an applicant for the maid position arranged by Holzmann.] Karl asks if Uncle Ludwig wants to give her some earnest money [to secure her services.]

They have had some knives made, and they are already here. The tongs they commissioned are not yet finished. There is a vegetable woman in the Landstrasse who accepts similar commissions. She [the housekeeper?] has gone there.

Ludwig is not impressed by the appearance of the copies made for Schott to publish so far. Karl observes that, “It’s really not a matter of beauty, and if it’s just clear enough for the compositor to find his way around, then it is good.”

Karl is convinced that the building superintendent’s wife gets too much for two tubs of water to be brought up. The maid still has to carry up three. [Up four flights of stairs.] Uncle Ludwig is impressed by her strength. Karl agrees. No one dares pick it up, and she cannot carry it inside.

The apartment [which apartment is not identified] will remain empty until the landlady, Frau Kletschka, makes up her mind to have it painted.

Karl says they have to wait until Christmas Day. [For what is not stated; it probably does not relate to the apartment that is being painted, since the landlady would likely not be inclined to do any favors for her noisy and raucous tenants.] But today is already the 20th.

Karl mentions that Frau Kletschka is also an antique dealer, with an antique and mineral shop in the Kärntnerstrasse. She has a very great collection of antiques, paintings, etc. She is the widow of Court Antique Dealer Carl Riegel.

They speak with a tailor who makes a call at the apartment. Uncle Ludwig is undecided about the fabric. The tailor says he has some nice things that have just arrived; he’ll bring several examples tomorrow morning.

Uncle Ludwig is annoyed at the lack of response from the singing societies for their offer of the Missa Solemnis with a piano score. Karl thinks it unbelievable that of the five singing societies that were invited to subscribe, only one has responded, and that was in the negative. Karl tries to reassure his uncle that a response will surely come.

Ludwig would like to visit his former pupil Carl Czerny today, perhaps about the piano arrangements. Karl believes that Carl Czerny eats out on Sundays.

Conversation Book 78, 8v-10v. Page 10v has no writing, and is crossed out with red crayon.

Charles Neate of the London Philharmonic Society writes to Beethoven today. The original letter in English no longer survives, but Karl’s translation of it into German does. The Society would like to invite Beethoven to come to England, and Neate has little doubt that Beethoven could earn a sufficient sum of money to cover his travel expenses. The Society is prepared to give him 300 guineas to make the trip, and in return would expect Beethoven to conduct the performance of at least one of his own works at each of the Philharmonic’s concerts.

They would also like Beethoven to write a symphony and a concerto for their use during his stay, but these works would continue to be his property. Neate also suggests that Beethoven could give an Akademie concert, where he would earn at least 500 pounds. There are many ways to profit from his talent and fame. If he were to bring the quartets they have been discussing, that would give him another 100 pounds, so he could take a large sum back with him. “I see no reason why you should not earn enough to make your future life more pleasant.”

Neate hopes Beethoven will write and accept the proposals promptly. “At the same time, I take the opportunity to tell you that I am your sincere friend, and that you will find yourself surrounded by many who will seize every chance to show you their respect and admiration: the great Beethoven, whose fame now shines higher than ever before in this country.”

The Philharmonic’s concerts will begin in the middle of February, and conclude in June. “Your new symphony [the Ninth] has arrived and we are having our first rehearsal with it on January 17. But I hope you will conduct it yourself at our first concert. They say there is a copy of it in Paris–but I hope that is not true.” [It was not true, and Beethoven will vehemently deny it when he responds.] Neate asks that Beethoven respond in either French, or in German using French letters.

Brandenburg Letter 1914; Albrecht Letter 388. Karl’s translation is held by the Berlin Staatsbibliothek (aut.35,43b). As it happens, the symphony requires more rehearsal time than anticipated, and it will not be performed until the third concert of the Philharmonic’s 1825 season.