BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, November 22, 1825 (approximately)

One surviving leaf from the lost conversation book covering this period is held at the Bonn Beethovenhaus as part of BH 53, pages 9-10. Unpaid assistant Karl Holz is probably in a coffee house having a conversation with Beethoven, who is copying down an advertisement for potatoes. This ad appeared in the Intelligenzblatt supplement to the Wiener Zeitung for today, as well as November 24 and 26, so this conversation probably takes place on one of these three days.

The subject of the proposed Akademie concerts is broached. Holz is convinced that there should be two concerts: one for the Ninth Symphony, and one for the Missa Solemnis. They can offer a subscription covering both concerts for 10 florins. But the Musikverein would need to be approached, through a letter from Beethoven, requesting their cooperation. Violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh believes that the arrangements should be done soon. Holz thinks the first thing to do is determine the date and the time of the concert and whether [the sentence is interrupted by the end of the page.]

BH 53, pages 9-10.

Today, the music festival in Demmin in Pomerania continues with a concert held in the large hall of the Shooting House. The concert opens with an unidentified overture by Beethoven. The second half begins with the overture from Beethoven’s Fidelio, and concludes with Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, op.80. “The latter was performed by Fraulein Fried. Richardt with great skill and expressiveness….”

Berliner allgemeine musikalische Zeitung of February 8, 1826 (Nr.6) at 47.