1. What do we know about Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved letter? The famous love letter was found following Beethoven’s death in 1827 among his personal belongings by his secretary Anton Schindler. It was first published by Schindler himself 13 years later in his biography of the composer. The letter has been dated to 1812 when Beethoven was 41 years old, …
‘My soul is a passionate dancer; she dances to hidden music which only I can hear… Whatever police the world may prescribe to rule the soul, I refuse to obey them.’ In these lines written to her brother, Bettina Brentano, the phenomenally talented writer, artist and social activist expresses her soul’s meaning, the lifeblood of her character. For Bettina …
The aristocratic women close to Beethoven were all remarkable in their own unique ways. Antonie Brentano, one of the suggested recipients of the mysterious Immortal Beloved letter, dedicated much of her time to philanthropy, setting up charities and working with the poor in Frankfurt. Antonie was also a significant cultural figure, promoting the arts in the city. During her time …
Josephine’s tale is a tragic, yet familiar story of love and marriage in an era of strict social constraints, often with devastating consequences. One cannot help but feel for the gentle Josephine, who was trapped by societal expectations, and the passionate, deeply sensitive man, who yearned for her loving comfort. In this article, we will introduce Josephine, one possible claimant …
Beethoven’s Unsterbliche Geliebte, or Immortal Beloved ‘My angel, my all, my own self’ Written at the age of 41, Beethoven’s famous love letter reads as a breathless expression of despair and hope, of love and devotion for an unnamed woman, his Immortal Beloved, whose identity has sparked two centuries of curiosity, research and debate. Here, we will take a …
‘The young Englishman, who knew all of Beethoven’s works by heart’ I believe we can all appreciate the Englishman’s justified admiration and enthusiasm for Beethoven’s musical talent and be somewhat bemused by the comment made to Potter, by pianist J.B Cramer: ‘If Beethoven emptied his inkstand upon a piece of music paper you would admire it! Though, wouldn’t we …