BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, March 12, 1823

Beethoven today dictates to Schindler a draft of a letter to composer Luigi Cherubini in France. Once when asked who was his favorite composer other than himself, Beethoven’s response was “Cherubini,” so he clearly held the transplanted Italian in very high regard. Beethoven begins with much flattery, saying that he appreciates Cherubini’s works for theater above all others. He regrets that nothing new from Cherubini has been heard in Germany of late. “I am delighted whenever I receive a new work from you, and I take a greater interest than in my own. If it weren’t for his constant illness, he would visit Cherubini in Paris.

He then gets to the point of making a request of Cherubini. He has just completed a solemn Mass, and has sent through the French ambassador a request to the King of France to subscribe. Beethoven is convinced that a word from Cherubini would make certain that the subscription occurs. Beethoven asks that he accept this plea as a true artist of the world and as a true friend.

The draft in Schindler’s hand is partly in German and partly in French; the letter will not be mailed until Saturday, March 15. The draft letter itself is undated, but a notation by Beethoven in his calendar of a letter to Cherubini today appears to refer to this draft, while the actual letter is noted as being sent on the 15th. The delay may reflect revisions, or it may be that the entire letter is translated into French by Karl’s professor in the meantime, given the importance of Beethoven’s request and that it be understood properly by Cherubini.

Brandenburg Letter 1611, Anderson Letter 1154. The original is in the Berlin Staatsbibliothek, aut. 38,9. Another draft of the letter appears on the back of a calligraphic title page for the presentation of the Missa Solemnis score to Archduke Rudolph, Berlin Staatsbibliothek Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 45. This draft is probably written about the same time and has substantially the same content, but in rougher form.