BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, October 18, 1824

Today’s entry is by guest editor Birthe Kibsgaard.

Finally, as announced in the Wiener Zeitung two days ago, the new Burgtor (Castle Gate) into the City is opened to the public today, as of noon, on the anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig. It had been ready for 4 weeks but had to be officially opened by the Emperor and the King of Bavaria. The architect of the new Gate was Peter Nobile. The middle arch was reserved for the court, the next two arches were for the public traffic, and the two outer arches for pedestrians, according to the Österreiches Bürgerblatt für Verstand, Herz und gute Laune, in its enthusiastic acclamation of October 22.

A photo of the Burgtor today by Birthe Kibsgaard is attached. How many times did Beethoven pass beneath these arches?

Ignaz Moscheles (who idolized Beethoven and did very much to promote him in England) gives a concert today in the Leipzig Gewandhaus. The concert is reviewed in the November 11, 1824 Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung (Nr.46) at 748-749. The magazine is very loud in its praise of the concert, which is “a delight that had not been enjoyed there in a very long time. His piano playing is incomparable….So are his compositions, which were admirable from beginning till end, particularly the Piano Concerto in G minor.”