BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, June 2, 1824

Beethoven writes out a fair copy of the canon WoO 186, Te solo adoro, with the Italian dedication, “Canone a due voci, scritto al 2do junio 1824 per il Signore Soliva come sovvenire dal suo amico Luigi van Beethoven.”

The canon WoO 186 is here performed by members of the Chamber Choir of the Berlin Singakademie:

Later, probably around noon, Carlo Soliva returns to visit Beethoven and collect his souvenir. Karl assists in the translation, and Soliva also writes for himself (in French) to some extent. Beethoven asks whether there are still any castrati performing. Oh yes, Girolamo Cresentini (1762-1846) and Luigi Marchese (1754-1829) are among the greatest of them, Soliva observes.

Beethoven complains about the Italian opera and the fondness for cabalettas [short, animated operatic arias with simple rhythm, usually the second half-of a two-part structure.] Soliva eagerly agrees, saying “Today we have nothing but cabalettas. One no longer hears a piece of declamation.”

Soliva continues, “In Italy today, one hears cabalettas even in the church, especially in Rome, and the same in Naples, but one may no longer create castrati.”

Beethoven mentions that he is thinking of a possible tour of his Akademie concert. Soliva suggests that a journey to the south, say to Naples, would do Beethoven’s health good. Soliva would like to accompany him. He plans to return in a year, and Soliva can show him to Naples. Beethoven asks whether he lives there, but Soliva says that he lives in Milan, with his mother.

Soliva would like to see the English Broadwood piano that was a famous gift to Beethoven. He presumably shows it to his guest, though he does not appear to play.

Soliva says he will send his last opera to Beethoven for his opinion. Beethoven grouses that people do not appreciate great art. Soliva agrees, “The majority of the public is everywhere almost the same. There are very few true connoisseurs.” Karl chimes in that sounds like the people of Austria.

Beethoven presents Soliva with the canon Te solo adoro, WoO 186. Soliva accepts it “with a thousand thanks. I shall make a picture of it, and I shall place it above my bed as a guardian angel.”

Soliva must leave to catch his coach to Warsaw. “I shall take the liberty of writing to you from Warsaw, and I shall tell you about everything.”

After Soliva departs, Beethoven, possibly inspired by the talk of church music, makes a note to write 2 vespers.

Conversation Book 71, 13r-15r.