BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Thursday, September 22, 1825

Nephew Karl and Uncle Ludwig, having stayed in Vienna to meet with Baron Eskeles about Karl obtaining a position at the Eskeles banking house after he finishes his studies, get together with publisher Maurice Schlesinger, who is acting as go-between. He arranges for an appointment at noon, but once again when they show up they are disappointed and Eskeles is not there.

Beethoven invites Schlesinger to dinner, but he declines. Schlesinger intends to eat at Baron Arnstein’s, where Baron Eskeles is, and with whom he would like to speak concerning Karl; he’ll take Karl to meet him tomorrow.

Schlesinger intends to come to Baden again, but only to bid Beethoven adieu. He plans to leave Tuesday morning [September 27.]

The second quartet [op.132] can be turned in to the Biedermann banking house, which Beethoven has worked with before, once the proofreading is finished. Schlesinger is giving instructions for Beethoven to be paid in cash, rather than a bill of exchange upon delivery. Schlesinger again tries to get the manuscript copy, since it would certainly be correct, but Beethoven, now recognizing that his autograph manuscripts are themselves valuable, does not comply.

Schlesinger reminds Beethoven that he has asked for a little note to take to David. [It’s not clear who this person is, but appears to be an artist in Paris. The Italian singers Giacomo David and Giovanni David, who Beethoven probably knew, can be eliminated as they were not in Paris in 1825, according to Sieghard Brandenburg. Giovanni is presently based in Naples, and his father Giacomo rarely left Italy after 1800.]

Beethoven takes a carriage back to Baden this afternoon. Nephew Karl remains in Vienna, and he will meet with Schlesinger tomorrow.

Conversation Book 97, 40r-41r.

In the evening tonight in Berlin, a concert opens with an unidentified symphony by Beethoven. Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung Nr.42, October 19, 1825.