BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, January 31, 1825
Johann and Karl are both at Beethoven’s apartment this morning. Johann spoke to Franz Nehammer of the Musikverein as he had said he would last Friday, and they have already reserved the Landständischer Saal for an Akademie benefit concert on the evening of a Norma Day [a religious holiday in which no theatrical or operatic productions can be held, leaving the way open for concerts of instrumental music, thus increasing the potential attendance.] “Everything was arranged with the greatest pleasure.”
Johann tells a sensational story about a terrible incident in Potsdam, involving the traveling menagerie of Hermann Van Aken. “One day, Aken went into the cage where the large lion was, that we saw. [Beethoven attended the Van Aken menagerie in March, May, and June of 1824.] He noticed immediately that the animal was furiously leaping about and tried to get out quickly. The lion, however, slammed the latch of the cage shut with its tail, threw Van Aken to the ground and held him down for a quarter of an hour. Finally, Aken tried to make a movement; in an instant, the lion tore his head off!” [Van Aken in fact lived until 1834, so obviously Johann’s story is not true.]
Johann is annoyed that Fries wants to collect all the works before sending them to Schott; that was not what the contract specified, since Schott knew the quartet was not yet ready.
Talk turns to Beethoven’s friend Joseph Bernard, editor of the Wiener Zeitung. He has an excellent setup; he has married a woman with a house, plus he gets about 5,000 florins annually for editing the Zeitung.
Johann mentions Franz Grillparzer’s new tragedy Ottokar. The censor refused to pass it, and the manuscript sat in his office. The Empress found out about that and wanted to see it, so now it will be performed by command of the Emperor himself. [We will have more to say about this on February 19, when Ottokar premieres.]
Johann says Karl should draw up a receipt for Duport at once. [This receipt likely relates to the last remaining expenses for the May 7, 1824 Akademie benefit concert held at the Kärntertor Theater, for which its manager Duport had periodically been demanding payment from Beethoven; he typically referred Duport to Anton Schindler, who had made the arrangements. Someone, whether Beethoven or Schindler, appears to have finally paid these costs.]
A letter needs to be written to Schott concerning their proprietary rights for the works being sold to them, and Johann asks how it should be phrased. Ludwig asks why this letter is needed at all. He had written to Schott on January 22 asking them to provide him with such a statement for him to sign. Johann explains that Fries, the agent, won’t accept the bill of exchange without such a letter. There needs to be a declaration, which Karl can write out, in the form of a letter. Ludwig is resistant and thinks they should just demand the money on delivery of the works. Johann counsels against that; Fries is already angry and doing that would just make him even more furious. Ludwig needs to be careful, if he wants to get paid. Fries could disrupt the relationship with Schott. It needs to be done now; Fries noted that Ludwig has already been paid for the Missa Solemnis, etc., so this declaration is overdue. Now is the time to do it. [Ludwig grumbles about this task but will ultimately do it in five days.]
Conversation Book 83, 25r-27v.
Heinrich Albert Probst in Leipzig receives Beethoven’s letter of January 26 today. He immediately responds to Beethoven, who had offered Probst two as-yet-not-composed string quartets. Probst’s answer does not survive, but he almost certainly declined, since Beethoven did not ever write to Probst again. However, it is known from Probst’s notation on that letter that he answered today. More will be heard on this issue in a few days.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.