BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, August 8, 1820

Conversation Book 15, leaves 35v through 41r

Beethoven reads yesterday’s Intelligenzblatt while waiting for his coach to Vienna, making note of another possible housekeeper “with years of discretion, well experienced in the art of cooking.” Apparently the previous housekeeper’s cooking was as poor as she said.

Once in Vienna, Beethoven presumably visits Archduke Rudolph and gives him a composition lesson; this would explain the urgency of a return to Vienna only three days after Beethoven had just been there. [Anton Schindler recounted the improbable story that Beethoven could for some reason hear the Archduke’s voice perfectly well. While Schindler is always unreliable, that report is consistent with the fact there are no conversations with the Archduke to be found in the conversation books thus far. More likely, the Archduke may simply have used his own paper for such conversations, and Schindler just made up this story to match the conversation books.]

Afterwards, Oliva has some free time; his new employer, banker Joseph Biedermann, left for Baden this morning. Schlesinger’s bill of exchange has been accepted in Berlin, which means that Beethoven should be able to get paid for the Scottish Songs, op.108; Schlesinger said he would pay before he receives the music.

The prospective housekeeper is skilled as a cook; Kaufmann has known her for 15 years and recommends her. They will meet at the Schwarze Kameel between 7 and 8. In addition to room and board, she wants 30 florins per week. Beethoven engages her as a housekeeper.

They run into Joseph Bernard, also at the Kameel in the evening. In between anti-Semitic remarks, Bernard speaks approvingly of attorney Bach and his work. He mentions that Doctor Boer pays his cook 2 florins per day for midday and evening meals. [Editor Ted Albrecht notes that the cook’s salary of around 700 florins per year was comparable to a principal wind player at the Court Opera.]

Bernard suggests that Beethoven look for an apartment for the fall on the Seilerstatt, along the City walls; if he finds a large apartment, Bernard will take a couple of rooms. Beethoven does not appear to pursue that arrangement.

Bernard mentions that Anton Wranitzky (1761-1820), violin virtuoso and concertmaster at the Kärtnertor Theater was buried yesterday, August 7. He had died on Sunday morning, the day before.

Bernard says that he has been in the Dornbach quarter of the city only two times, one of them at the residence of Herr von Frank, where Baroness Dorothea von Ertmann performed. Beethoven had taught Ertmann piano for several years beginning in 1803, and in 1816 dedicated the piano sonata in A, op.101 to her. A painting of the young pianist is attached. Beethoven appears to have complimented her beauty, because Bernard obnoxiously contradicts him, “She is becoming old, fat, and not beautiful.” Bernard has succeeded in offending Beethoven once again by insulting those he likes and admires. Beethoven and Oliva settle up the bill and leave.

While waiting for the coach back to Mödling, Beethoven makes note of a book for sale about the history of the building and enlargement of the pilgrimage church of Mariazell, one of the most visited shrines in Europe and now a basilica. (Vienna 1819). The original Gothic church burned twice, and then was redesigned into a baroque masterpiece completed in 1683, shown here.

Beethoven then returns to Mödling.