BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, October 23, 1822 (very approximately)

Beethoven drops an undated note to Artaria & Co., asking for a loan of a copy of the piano arrangement of Fidelio “for just a few days; you will get it back intact.” Artaria had printed this piano arrangement in 1814. The Latin form of Beethoven’s signature points to being written sometime after 1817. The address cannot have been made before the Vienna house renumbering in 1821. It seems possible that Beethoven would want to see the piano version in connection with the upcoming revival of Fidelio on November 3rd, 1822.

This manuscript is held in a private collection. Brandenburg Letter 1454, Anderson Letter 489.

Here is a piano arrangement of the overture to Fidelio: