BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Sunday, April 4, 1824

Ludwig Schwebel, the Second Secretary at the Royal French Embassy in Vienna, today writes to Beethoven regarding the gold medal awarded by King Louis XVIII in recognition of receipt of the Missa Solemnis. “The chargé d’affaires of France hastens to present to Monsieur de Beethoven the large gold medal of the King, whose august majesty has deigned to grant him. He considers himself happy to be able to convey to Monsieur de Beethoven this token of His Majesty’s good will. He asks him to kindly acknowledge receipt and to receive on this occasion his assurances of perfect consideration.”

Brandenburg Letter 1805; Albrecht Letter 353. A photocopy survives, but the whereabouts of the original letter are unknown. This medal was one of the greatest honors Beethoven received, and he treasured it highly. The Bonn Beethovenhaus has a photograph of the front and back of the medal, which is held by the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. The photo can be seen here:

https://www.beethoven.de/en/media/view/5879295796838400/scan/0