BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Tuesday, September 20, 1825
The administrator of Schloss Gutenbrunn comes to visit Beethoven, along with a friend or acquaintance. Beethoven is in a rush to get out the door. The administrator asks, “Where are you going in such a hurry?” After Beethoven tells him, the administrator tries to introduce his friend anyway. “The gentleman who is accompanying me is a young physician—a great musician [and] singer, and your greatest admirer.”
Later, Beethoven makes a note, possibly intending to reimburse Holz for one of his trips to Baden, “+ Holz, from here to Vienna.” Nephew Karl, who is still in Baden, makes some financial computations, including 2 fl. for the carriage, 12 kr. for food and 12 kr. tip for the waiter, totaling 2 fl. 24 kr. There appear to be charges for many trips back and forth.
The wash is drying very poorly in the garden today. Either the housekeeper or maid went to the landlady to ask whether they could use the large attic to be opened up for their use. Karl thinks that the best way.
They seem to have midday dinner at a local inn. Karl points out that the coachman over there drank a measure of red wine for 6 kr. Karl paid the charge in advance already. Bread was included in the meal.
Tobias Haslinger will surely come on Friday, September 23, Karl says. He certainly would have gotten 30 ducats for the manuscript of the quartet. [Karl is referring to the manuscript itself, not the publication rights, which were already sold to Maurice Schlesinger.] Uncle Ludwig probably mentions that Holz said that the manuscript would be capital for Karl on September 11. Karl replies, “They really are capital whose value also rises, the longer they lay.”
They are only going to have carp for dinner, but none has been bought yet. Beethoven doesn’t like that idea and suggests they have something else.
Karl mentions (probably having talked to Sir George Smart) that they have fine portraits of Beethoven in London.
Thinking back to Count Dietrichstein, Karl says that he would wish for himself to die from a stroke someday.
Karl mentions, “I forgot to tell you that Wolfmayer was present at the rehearsal of the second quartet [op.132]; at the Chorale [Heiliger Dankgesang] he could not hold back his tears. This solemn, devotional movement had touched him deeply.”
Uncle Ludwig is thinking that a trip to England would be profitable after all, having been convinced by Sir George Smart that he could easily make 10,000 florins. Karl tells him, “We’ll wait for a year, and then go to England.” By then, his courses should be finished at the Polytechnic. If he can get a position with the Eskeles banking house, he will be able to go directly into the mercantile class, and people there are most accustomed to orderly procedures.
Karl asks whether his uncle has heard Catharina Cibbini play piano yet. “She was excellent. She is teaching [Marie] Eskeles.” [Both of them were at the performance on September 11.
“It’s a shame that you don’t own all of your works; it should at least be that.” Uncle Ludwig says he doesn’t get copies. Karl tells him, “When they are published, request a copy.”
Uncle Ludwig suggests a short trip to England. Karl thinks that’s a mistake. “You won’t want to leave London so soon, once we’re there.” Uncle Ludwig asks what Karl believes he could make from such a tour. Karl thinks over two years, certainly 50,000 florins net. How would that be earned, Uncle Ludwig asks. “Concerts.” Karl is convinced that if Uncle Ludwig wants to leave, they would do everything possible to keep him in Vienna, as they did back then.
The supper this evening ends up being mutton chops, without vegetables. The plan for tomorrow is for Ludwig and Karl to both go into Vienna tomorrow and meet with Schlesinger, and get him to introduce Karl to Baron Eskeles and find him a position when he graduates.
Conversation Book 97, 34r-38v.