Ludwig van Beethoven died in his apartment in the Schwarzspanierhaus, on 26 March 1827, Vienna. His last days were witnessed by relatives, friends, a doctor and even a priest. Some of the accounts remembering the events are contradictory, some are confirmed by more sources.
On the 22 March his doctor (Dr. Wawruch) suggested the end is near and he should receive his last rites. Beethoven did not ask for it, but agreed and said, “Let the priest be called.” After the ceremony, with some remaining sense of humor, he said to the priest, “I thank you, ghostly sir! You have brought me comfort!”
His last dictated letter was written to Baron Johann Pasqualati, a wealthy Viennese patron of arts, friend and old landlord to Beethoven:
“How can I thank you sufficiently for that excellent champagne which has so greatly refreshed me and will continue to! I need nothing more for today and I thank you for everything.—Please note down what further result you achieve in respect of the wines, for I would gladly compensate you as much as my strength allows.—I cannot write any more today. May Heaven bless you in every way and reward you for your affectionate sympathy with your respectful and suffering BEETHOVEN”
On the 24 March he came out of delirium and suddenly announced his own death in Latin, using ancient Roman theater formula of conclusion, “Plaudite, amici, comoedia finita est!” (Applaud, friends, the comedy is over!)
On the same day, finally the wine arrived from Schott, his publisher, something he had asked from him in early February. He longed to taste wine from the Rhineland, his home in his youth. When Beethoven realized the wine had finally arrived he whispered,
“Schade, schade, zu spät!” (Pity, pity, too late!)
These were his last recorded words. He, then fell into coma and died two days later.
