BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, May 27, 1823

Today, Sauer & Leidesdorf advertises in the Wiener Zeitung at 487 that they have in stock the new publication by Moritz Schlesinger of the French edition of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata #32, op.111, for a price of 4 florins. This appears to be the earliest advertisement in Vienna for the sonata.

Piano Sonata #32 op.111, first edition by Schesinger (Bonn Beethovenhaus)

The final sonata is here performed live by Maurizio Pollini:

There is initially some concern that Sauer & Leidesdorf has re-engraved and pirated the French edition, but they are actually acting as distributor for Schlesinger in this case, simply adding their own cover. Anton Diabelli quickly forwards a copy to Beethoven in Hetzendorf, and he is dismayed to see a large number of serious errors that need to be corrected.