The great composer’s love of nature is well documented; Beethoven’s walks in the countryside surrounding Vienna were woven into his daily routine. The stunning forested hills filled with birdsong brought Beethoven great pleasure, and served as an important part of his creative process. Those solitary walks would, in a sense, allow his ideas to incubate, and flourish into the masterpieces …
Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) was Beethoven’s pupil, secretary and loyal friend. He was a talented pianist and went on to compose 180 works. Like Beethoven, Ries was also born in Bonn. He journeyed to Vienna at the age of 19 to learn from the great composer. In 1838, Ries and Beethoven’s friend Franz Wegeler published a joint effort biographical text, …
What do the books on your shelf say about you? Thanks to the dedication and hard-work of the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, we know a fair amount about Beethoven’s taste in literature. Amongst the list of fine literature, non-fiction, and reference books, we can find a hidden gem: a spiritual text, containing one essay for every day of the year. This book …
Schuppanzigh (1776-1830) was Beethoven’s violin teacher, friend and lifelong champion from the composer’s arrival in Vienna until his passing. He rehearsed and performed the string quartets and played at the premiere of every symphony Beethoven composed. In this article, you will read about the relationship between Schuppanzigh and Beethoven, how the composer would mercilessly tease his friend about his weight, …
Prince Ferdinand Johann Nepomuk Kinsky (1781 – 1812) was born in Vienna, into the Habsburg monarchy. He was but 11 years old when the great composer, Beethoven, relocated to the city from Bonn in 1792. Despite his young age, Beethoven’s music made a deep and lasting impression upon the royal. As an adult, he became one of the composer’s important …
The relationship between Archduke Rudolf and Beethoven spanned two decades; he was Beethoven’s most dedicated patron, financial supporter, and piano and composition student. Archduke Rudolf was born in 1788, in Florence. He was the youngest son of Emperor Leopold II and Maria Louisa of Spain. He did not follow a career in the military like most of the men …