BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, June 10, 1823

Beethoven writes to unpaid assistant Anton Schindler in an undated note, probably written in mid-June, asking him to check with publisher Anton Diabelli today as to whether the corrected engraving of the Diabelli Variations, op.120, is ready. Diabelli has promised him eight copies on fine paper, which Beethoven would like to receive as soon as possible. “The weather is bad. I am never alone, even when I am alone.”

Brandenburg Letter 1670, Anderson Letter 1198. The original is held by the Berlin Staatsbibliothek (aut.36,40).

In all likelihood, the next letter was sent as an enclosure to Schindler, and delivered to Diabelli in person by him.

Beethoven writes an undated letter to publisher Anton Diabelli from Hetzendorf. He absentmindedly sent the manuscript of the Piano Sonata op.111 to Diabelli yesterday, instead of the French edition published by Schlesinger. He asks for the manuscript back; if Diabelli still wants the French edition he can have it, though Beethoven would prefer to keep it.

Beethoven expects that the corrected edition of the Diabelli Variations must have been completed by now, and he asks that it be sent to him for his further approval. He has decided that Diabelli’s offer of eight copies on fine paper would be very welcome, since he can make gifts of them to oblige a few of his friends.

He promises the metronome markings for both the Sonata and the Variations will follow shortly, but there will be a delay “since I’m too busy now.” [Beethoven never did provide the metronome markings for either work, and they were published without such markings.]

Brandenburg Letter 1669, Anderson Letter 1201. This letter is in the H.C. Bodmer Collection NE 47b at the Bonn Beethovenhaus, and can be seen here:

https://www.beethoven.de/en/media/view/4967388340551680/scan/0

The S.A. Steiner publishing firm today announces in the Wiener Zeitung at 534 new luxury editions of several Beethoven compositions. These include the Piano Sonata #8 in C minor, op.13, the “Pathétique;” and the Violin Sonata #9 op.47, the “Kreutzer.” For the more economically minded, Steiner also offers the old edition of the Kreutzer Sonata for one florin 30 kr., rather than 2 fl. 30 kr.

Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lambert Orkis here play the Kreutzer Sonata in a splendid live performance: