BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, May 11, 1826
Beethoven makes a reminder note in the conversation book:
- buy chickens.
In the Imperial Augartensaal, a morning concert is given by violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh. The concert had originally been scheduled for May 1, but was postponed for a week and a half due to bad weather. The concert opens with the “latest overture by Beethoven (in C)” which would be the Name-Day Overture, op.115, which had only recently been published even though it was more than ten years old at this point. Later in the concert, the Grand March with Chorus from the Ruins of Athens, op.114 is presented. Schuppanzigh himself also plays a solo Adagio for violin by Beethoven [the slow movement of the Violin Concerto op.61], as well as Boleros by Rodolphe Kreutzer. The Leipzig Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung of June 28, 1826 (Nr.26), rather dismissively characterizes the concert as comprised of “on average, solid, passable stuff.”
The Name Day Overture is here performed by the Junge Philharmonie Wien, conducted by Michael Lessky:
The coverage in the Berliner Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung of August 9, 1826 (Nr.32) at 259 states, “Herr Schuppanzigh greeted the first of May as usual, though admittedly as a limping messenger, a whole eleven days later, when, at the onset of the merry month of May, the most unfriendly Boreas and Jupiter pluvits ruled [i.e., a windy and rainy day] with a morning concert in the Augarten. This musical dejeuner opened with Beethoven’s newest overture; then followed two bravura pieces that have not been new for a long time: an Aria by Raimondi, sung by Dem. Heckermann, and piano variations on the Sentinelle, played by Fraulein Salomon; and one must admit that both artists were perfectly equal to their by no means easy tasks. We once again enjoyed Beethoven’s March and Chorus in E-flat [op.114, from The Ruins of Athens], and his lovely violin Adagio wittily performed by the concert host. The most favorable impression, however, was produced by a highly accomplished poem, ‘The Vision,’ by Grillparzer, and a new hymn to the Emperor’s recovery composed by Konr. Kreutzer.”
Unpaid assistant Karl Holz comes to Beethoven in the afternoon, probably around mid-day dinner time. The composer asks whether there has been any further communication with Alois Zettler about the copyright decree. Not yet, but Holz assures that he will go to him again.
Holz did see Court Councilor Ignaz von Mosel and told him that he’d bring the letters today for Baron Karl August von Klein and others.
Beethoven asks how things went at Ignaz Schuppanzigh’s outdoor concert at the Augarten this morning. “Everything went well. The overture and the March with Chorus pleased very much. Mylord [Schuppanzigh] played as usual; much of it was too difficult for him, the presentation excellent. Beethoven observes one area that Schuppanzigh has difficulty with and Holz adds, “and the high registers.” The G-major sonata was too difficult for him in terms of its bar structure.
Holz helps Beethoven go through his mail. There is a letter from courier Augustin Lipscher in St. Petersburg. He had taken the “third quartet” [op.130] and was supposed to bring back the money from Prince Nikolai Galitzin. He went to the home of the Prince, who excused himself, saying he had no time, and asked Lipscher to come back another day. Holz summarizes, “Lipscher then went 5 or 6 times but was never received; all kinds of excuses were given; a so-called blue note of 5 f. given to a servant helped him finally get through to the Prince again; he was rather embarrassed, fumbled through his scores, and finally said that Lipscher could come to him before his departure for Vienna and receive the money. The fellow believes it is nothing more than a Russian trick! But he adds that he is not to be put off so easily; he thinks that he will be here in 4 to 5 weeks.”
Tobias Haslinger is no longer friendly to Holz and does not even greet him. Holz believes that the Steiner firm is more concerned with having their publications announced and praised than dealing fairly with Beethoven. “[Ignaz von] Seyfried, [Baron Edouard von] Lannoy, [Joseph] Blahetka, [Wilhelm] Klingenbrunnger, and [Ferdinand] Piringer have been scribbling/bribing.”
Holz ran into Brother Johann at the Augarten concert this morning, in the company of Lichnowsky (with whom he continued to be friendly, probably because their wives were related, even though Lichnowsky is no longer in contact with Ludwig). He said he would come and dine with Ludwig and stay until 4 o’clock. [There is no indication in this conversation book of Johann coming today, but it is possible that a second conversation book was being used at the time, as was the case later in May.]
They are having chicken for dinner. Beethoven thinks it might be useful to keep live chickens. Holz agrees, “You could set up a small chicken coop in the kitchen; it would be very beneficial to your economy.” Beethoven for a change is pleased with the current housekeeper; she runs a tight ship, which he appreciates. That is Holz’s view as well: “She has always been very diligent; if she had left you, I would have taken her in immediately.”
Holz can pick up the pension for Karl, but he needs the receipt signed by him.
Holz asks whether Beethoven likes asparagus. [Like many people in Germany, he does indeed.] Holz advises that asparagus is now at its cheapest.
The chicken for dinner was not thoroughly cooked, however. Beethoven asks the current price of a chicken. Holz tells him 1 florin.
Holz departs to go see whether Alois Zettler has learned anything more about the copyright decree that supposedly requires publishers to get Beethoven’s approval before printing his works.
Conversation Book 110, 4v-7r.