BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, December 4, 1820

The stream of confirmations by Archduke Rudolph, in his capacity as cardinal and Archbishop of Olmütz, continues unabated in Troppau, Austrian Silesia (now Opava in the Czech Republic). Not only are there candidates for confirmation “pouring in from the most distant regions,” but also all the boys from the school for the infantry regiment located there were to be confirmed as well. Troppau Zeitung of December 8, quoted in the Wiener Zeitung of December 13 (nr. 284).

Beethoven continues to enjoy his freedom from lessons for the Archduke.