BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, November 22, 1824 (approximately)

You may recall from our October 24th entry that according to the anonymous anecdote in the Neues Wiener Musik-Zeitung of July 15, 1858 at 110, Carl Friedrich Müller was after four weeks supposed to pick up the completed Waltz for piano WoO 84, for inclusion in his set of 40 dances by 40 different composers. The anecdote continues, “Since the publisher had to forego such an interesting visit, he was unable to attend. He therefore asked his mother to fetch the waltz and to express his thanks.”

“But the housekeeper, whom she informed of her situation and status, did not let her in because, as she said, the gentleman was in a bad mood again today. As Beethoven stuck his head out of the door at that moment, she pushed the woman into a dark room with the words, ‘Hide yourself, because today it is impossible to speak to him,’ from whence she then left without having accomplished anything.”

The story will continue on November 24 with the conclusion of the anecdote.

The Leipzig Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung Nr.52, December 23, 1824, at 861 reports that a musical Akademie concert is given in Berlin today by Concertmeister Karl Möser. The program opens with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, op.67, which is being played in Berlin for the very first time, and the report says it was “masterfully presented.” Ignaz Moscheles also plays a Rondo of his own composition, on piano accompanied by the orchestra, among other pieces.