BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Saturday, March 20, 1824

[ad_1]

The planning for the Akademie live performance to be held tentatively on the Redoutensaal on April eighth takes a sudden flip immediately, because the proofreading of copies of elements for the Missa Solemnis continues.

Unpaid assistant Anton Schindler, with Depend Moritz Lichnowsky, involves Beethoven’s residence this morning with a weird story concerning the Archangel Gabriel coming to him in a dream, saying he ought to inquire on the Theater an der Wien, owned and largely managed by Depend Ferdinand Palffy, relating to Beethoven’s Akademie live performance. He took it upon himself to go along with Lichnowsky to make that proposal to Palffy, and the Depend says he could be blissful to let Beethoven use the orchestra, refrain, lighting, and many others. and is asking 1,000 florins for the night. However Beethoven must additionally give a second or third Akademie live performance there as effectively. Schindler recommends that he take the provide.

[The reference to the Archangel Gabriel making this announcement is a reflection of the fact that in a few days, March 25, it will be the Feast of the Annunciation, which is a major religious holiday in Austria. It was also the Archangel Gabriel who announced to the Virgin Mary that she would bear a child who would be the Messiah. Rather cheeky of Schindler to compare himself to the Virgin Mary.]

Beethoven might be shocked by Schindler’s gall. How is he to cowl the assured 1,000 florins for Palffy? Schindler means that if the seat costs have been elevated by a modest quantity, that will put the earnings from a full home at over 4,000 florins, so that will be 2,000 florins revenue only for the primary live performance. On the second live performance, the place the copying prices would already be lined, the revenue could be extra like 3,000 florins.

Beethoven has questions on whether or not such ticket will increase may very well be approved. Schindler brushes his issues off; that’s how all the advantages on the Theater an der Wien are run. Bills are usually not so excessive as they might be in the event that they have been utilizing the Redoutensaal. For that, if Duport solely takes 300 florins, then the stage scaffolding would value one other 300, the lighting could be 300, and already the Redoutensaal prices 900 florins, with an excessive amount of inconvenience, working round, and frustration.

Lithograph portrait of Depend Ferdinand Palffy by Joseph Lanzedelly, circa 1820.

Schindler says he additionally spoke to Palffy about Ignaz Schuppanzigh serving as concertmaster and maybe Michael Umlauf as conductor, and Palffy is keen to let Beethoven organize that nonetheless he desires. He needn’t fear concerning the an der Wien concertmaster, Franz Clement (1780-1842). [Clement had served in that role for the premieres of the Seventh and Eighth Symphonies, so it’s quite possible he would see this arrangement as a snub.] What about Schuppanzigh, Beethoven asks. Schindler repeats that Palffy has already permitted Schuppanzigh. Schindler thinks this can enable Beethoven to thumb his nostril at Herr Duport and the Police and jail, by not utilizing a Courtroom facility.

Beethoven remains to be involved about whether or not he’ll make a revenue, and whether or not Palffy would find yourself with many of the proceeds. Schindler tells him Palffy desires no revenue, simply that his bills be lined. Beethoven could make preparations for the loges and the locked seats. Each profit live performance organizer both sells the loges themselves, or has a trusted buddy deal with such gross sales. So, sure or no? Will Beethoven authorize the 2 of them to proceed negotiating with Palffy?

Beethoven isn’t able to say sure or no. Would he must pay the orchestra? Solely those who must be paid, professionals who’re introduced in to complement the an der Wien orchestra, which might be lined by Palffy. They gained’t value Beethoven a kreutzer. With out this orchestra, Beethoven must pay twice as a lot. Palffy additionally is aware of that there can be loads of volunteers coming in. However Beethoven must defray the prices of the early commercials.

So, Schindler thinks it important to come back to an understanding with Palffy early on. Since Beethoven doesn’t must pay him earlier, the live performance can nonetheless be withdrawn at any time. Beethoven wonders what Schuppanzigh, who he enormously trusts, will consider this proposition. [He may be remembering Nephew Karl’s warning on March 5 not to neglect Schuppanzigh, as his most active supporter. Beethoven may also be suspicious that Schindler is trying to shut Schuppanzigh out, much as Schindler was shut out of the March 7 planning meeting.] Schindler assures him Schuppanzigh can be notified and consulted, however he gained’t discover something to complain about. However choral rehearsals want to start now, whether or not it’s with Umlauf or another person. Schuppanzigh isn’t going to do this, after which who will deal with it? Beethoven would like to go away the matter in Schuppanzigh’s arms. Schindler replies that then Schuppanzigh may have an excessive amount of to do, and if it doesn’t go effectively, then will probably be the fault of the poor choral preparations.

Lichnowsky chimes in that it’s correct to double the orchestra, however care ought to be taken to not take extra individuals on than crucial. On this venue, a smaller orchestra can be more practical than a bigger one within the Redoutensaal. Beethoven had individuals from the Kärntnertor orchestra in thoughts, although. Beethoven nonetheless insists that they need to proceed attempting to get the Redoutensaal, maybe to maintain his choices open. Schindler tells him he doesn’t must take everybody from the Theater an der Wien. Don’t take any, it’s all the identical to Palffy. Lichnowsky provides that one should keep away from pointless bills.

Beethoven asks how quickly they may very well be prepared. Schindler says they may very well be prepared by the twenty second or twenty third or twenty fourth of this month. [That timing is plainly not possible. The score of the Ninth Symphony has barely been begun in a fair copy, let alone the parts. Editor Theodore Albrecht suggests that Schindler likely meant next month, which would have placed the Akademie just after Easter, April 18th.]

Lichnowsky says that approach Beethoven may be assured of getting a revenue, and if a second Akademie is held instantly afterwards, he ought to write a brand new Duet for Sontag and Unger. That may very well be paired with the symphony and the opposite two actions from the Missa Solemnis. [Lichnowsky does not take into account the additional copying costs that would involved.]

Beethoven asks what the prices are for tickets on the Theater an der Wien. Schindler says that the worth within the Parterre may be very affordable at 2 florins. The gallery is 2 florins, and the seats are 3 florins. Plainly upset by the sudden proposed change of plans, Beethoven thinks there can be fewer issues in the event that they keep on with the Redoutensaal. Schindler scolds him for locating difficulties the place none exist. The query will not be the place there can be extra issues, within the Theater an der Wien or within the Redoutensaal.

Schindler says he’ll go see Schuppanzigh at mid-day, however Lichnowsky goes again to Palffy, and he wants Beethoven’s tentative determination. Beethoven seems to provide him the approval for a tentative settlement. Glad, Schindler says that Lichnowsky can even go to the Redoutensaal, and he himself will make preparations and put this enterprise to mattress fairly rapidly. Schindler mentions that there’s a basic rehearsal immediately and tomorrow within the Redoutensaal. [These are probably rehearsals for the third Concert spirituel, consisting of all Beethoven works, to be held April 1. Members of the Musikverein will be in the orchestra and making up the chorus, so Schuppanzigh and Schindler can get a sense of which of the dilettantes is talented enough to take a seat next to the professionals.]

After Schindler and Lichnowsky go their separate methods, Nephew Karl informs his uncle that copyist Paul Maschek is right here; he says he made an appointment to come back now. [Maschek does not write in the conversation book, so he is probably simply dropping off copies for proofreading and picking up proofread parts.]

Beethoven makes his purchasing listing within the early afternoon:

+Sugar
+Containers [perhaps for the orchestral and choral parts that were being copied.]
+Writing paper.
He additionally makes a notice concerning the scores of the symphony, Mass, and many others. “This pell-mell can solely be organized by way of them.” [Beethoven writes the French term, “pêlemêle.”]
+Additionally Zmeskall’s metronome from Stein. [Nikolaus Zmeskall (1759-1833), cellist and friend of Beethoven since his first years in Vienna in the 1790s, currently suffering badly from gout.]

After working his errands, Ludwig returns residence. Nephew Karl mentions that Countess Stockhammer’s cook dinner was right here whereas his Uncle was out. She’s in search of calmer employment, and can be again on Monday the twenty second.

[Finding a mostly blank page at 8v, Schindler after Beethoven’s death falsifies a substantial entry regarding the second movement of the 8th Symphony and his fraudulent canon Ta ta ta ta lieber Mälzel, WoO 162, talking as if they were fast friends in the period 1815-1817, when Beethoven at that point barely knew who Schindler was.]

Nephew Karl and Ludwig focus on the day’s purchasing over some smoked herring for supper.

Dialog E book 60, 3r-9r.

At the moment’s Wiener Zeitung at 292 contains an announcement that tomorrow younger piano prodigy Leopoldine Blahetka can be giving a live performance within the Landständischen Saal at midday. She can be performing her personal and different compositions on the piano. Tickets are 4 florins W.W. and can be found from the Steiner & Co. music store, and on the day of the live performance on the field workplace. Beethoven was mates with the Blahetkas and inspired younger Leopoldine’s efforts. This live performance, the dimensions of the corridor, and the earnings from will probably be the topic of dialogue by Beethoven and his mates over the approaching weeks, as they wrestle with the query of the place the Akademie ought to be held.



[ad_2]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *