BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Wednesday, September 13, 1826

Unpaid assistant Karl Holz leaves Baden for Vienna very early to take care of several matters for Beethoven.

He spoke to Stephan von Breuning about the guardianship. He notes that Breuning also had a sad fate with his former guardianship. What happened, Beethoven asks. Holz reluctantly tells him, “A ward shot himself.” Breuning told Holz that “Beethoven is such a good friend that I could give my life for him; but here I do not see how my guardianship can be useful. He said, If I can give advice, then I’ll do that, without being guardian.”

Holz gives Beethoven cigars and handkerchiefs for Karl, and is reimbursed 4 florins (1 for the cigars, 3 for the handkerchiefs).

Holz also reports that he spoke to Baron Stephan von Ertmann yesterday in the City about Nephew Karl. Beethoven does not have to go to him; tomorrow morning, after the review of the troops on the Schmelz parade ground, he will have the honor of visiting the composer. Beethoven asks what he told Ertmann. Holz only said that Beethoven wanted to speak to him about Karl, nothing else. What time will he come, Beethoven asks. “Perhaps at 10 o’clock, perhaps later.” Ertmann is leaving Vienna Saturday [September 16.]

Beethoven is interested in an apartment Holz has found for him in Baden; Holz suggests that it would be best for him to take it on a day-to-day basis.

Holz has to see Dr. Vivenot today, but doesn’t know how long it will take; he would hate for Beethoven to have to wait for him. Holz will make an appointment with the barber today, and then the rest of the errands can be left for tomorrow. Holz mentions that he would have preferred to have become a physician.

Upon Holz’s return, he reports that he has spoken to Stephan von Breuning about Karl’s military service. “He is happy to be able to help you in this situation; he wants to talk to you about it.” But Holz deliberately did not tell Breuning anything about Ertmann’s involvement. “Breuning said that he will certainly see to it that Karl ends up with a colonel, who is his friend.”

Holz stopped by his office, and there was a copyist waiting there for him. Artaria had sent him in order to have the piano reduction of the Grosse Fuge [op.134] copied. Holz says he told him that someone else will have to do the proofreading. Holz also visited the barber and gave him instructions on how Beethoven’s hair is to be cut.

Beethoven goes to get his haircut [it does not suit him, because he complains to Holz the next time he sees him], and then goes to the hospital to visit Nephew Karl. He lets Karl know that he will be seeing Ertmann tomorrow, and that Breuning knows a colonel that might be able to take Karl on. Ertmann does not sound very encouraging, though. Karl asks how long Ertmann will be staying in Vienna. Uncle Ludwig tells him that he is leaving Saturday, the 16th. Karl asks about the regiment whose colonel Breuning knows. Where is it, Karl asks, but Uncle Ludwig doesn’t know. “In any case, you will see what Ertmann says,” Karl writes.

Karl says he will write if he needs anything. But if Uncle Ludwig could send him 1/2 pound of coffee and sugar one of these days, that would make him very happy as he will soon be out of his current stock.

Karl notes that the Archduke is back in Vienna; he read it in the newspapers. [It was announced in the Monday, September 11 Wiener Zeitung.]

Karl suggests that perhaps his uncle could bring Stephan von Breuning along on one of his visits, alone of course. Uncle Ludwig writes in French so as not to be understood by others, “mais il faut, que vous êtes aussi seul.” [But you have to be alone as well. That is, his mother should not be present.] Karl tells him that they will soon learn how quickly his military career can be arranged, and then they can settle it.

Uncle Ludwig starts to speak negatively again about Karl’s mother Johanna, and that she should be kept away, but Karl will have none of it. “I do not want to hear anything about her that is unfavorable to her, and it is absolutely not up to me to judge her. If I were to spend the short time remaining while I am here with her, it would be but a small compensation for all that she has suffered for my sake. Even if it could take place, there would be no question about a negative influence on me because of the short time. But under no circumstances will I treat her colder than was the case earlier, whatever you say.” [Karl here defiantly and definitively choosing his mother over his uncle has to be as hard on Ludwig as Karl’s suicide attempt itself was.]

Uncle Ludwig makes a last halfhearted attempt to convince Karl that, because Ertmann thinks it is difficult to get a position in the army, he should still pursue a business career, perhaps with Maurice Schlesinger in Paris. Karl tells him, “In any case, I have already told you and repeated it that I prefer this career to anything else. Even if things are as Ertmann says, for the time being, times might suddenly change; but this much is certain, that it mostly depends on the owner of a regiment, for instance a colonel, to place and promote according to his wishes. Besides, I know very well that I cannot stay here, and in any event I would not want to under any circumstances. The sooner I get away from here, the better for me.”

Will your mother not prevent you joining the army? Uncle Ludwig asks. “She won’t prevent anything,” Karl answers. “Not if I talk to her about it.” But she will worry about you in the military. “I find it natural that she worries about me, but she won’t be an obstacle. Concerning being with her, I hope that the arrangements will be made (on your part) so that I can leave from here as soon as possible, hence for the final days I cannot deny her the wish to be around me, all the less so as I shall probably not come back here very soon. Of course, this is not an obstacle for us to see each other as often as you wish.”

Uncle Ludwig wants to take steps, perhaps with the doctors, regarding Karl. Karl is exasperated. “I do not understand these precautionary measures when I, as I hope and wish, will leave soon.”

“I only ask you to bring Breuning as soon as you can. He understands these matters best, and will know at once what is to be done.” Karl suggests that Sunday morning [September 17] would be a good time to bring Breuning. “I am always alone then.” Ludwig doesn’t know if Breuning will be available. Karl thought he might have time in the morning. Tired of dealing with his uncle, Karl finally tells him, “You only need to tell me the time,” and the conversation abruptly ends.

Conversation Book 120, 41r-47r.

Holz goes back to Baden to be with his new fiancée Elisabeth and her family. He probably returns to Vienna again tomorrow.

At the Kärntertor Theater, a new ballet, The Sleepwalker, is premiered tonight. This “rural divertissement” is choreographed by Filippo Taglioni (1777-1871), ballet master of the theater, with music by Adalbert Gyrowetz, Kapellmeister. Before the ballet, there is a presentation of various musical pieces, including a violin concerto with polonaise by visiting famous French violinist Jacque Féréol Mazas (1782-1849). “The whole thing opened with Beethoven’s masterpiece, the Overture to Fidelio. Not without some surprise, we saw no Kapellmeister at the podium for this overture; perhaps it seemed too insignificant for an Akademie concert before the ballet? But a Beethoven overture is never and in no way insignificant, and we would have thought that one of the many Kapellmeisters of this stage should certainly have been present at such performances, if nothing more than to observe the respect owed to such creations.” Wiener Zeitschrift for September 23, 1826 (Nr.114) at 916.