Ludwig van Beethoven was the oldest surviving child in the family. Their mother, Maria Magdalena, gave birth to eight children, but only three of them lived through infancy. Ludwig, by his late teenage years, in the absence of a living mother and a dependable father, became the guardian of his siblings. This duty he carried on all his life and …
After much organization by Bettina von Arnim, who was a great admirer of both Goethe and Beethoven, the two finally met in Teplitz (or Töplitz), in the summer of 1812. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was the greatest, and probably also the most influential German-language writer. Not only that, but a significant scientist, theatre …
After their mother had passed away and their father sunk into alcoholism, Beethoven – a young man himself – had to fulfill the role of a guardian of his two younger brothers. This responsibility meant both financial support and spiritual, moral guidance, as well. As the siblings grew older and financially independent, Beethoven still held on to this role and …
In the summer of 1796 Beethoven visited Berlin. He stayed there for two months in June and July. The current Prussian king Frederick William II was a music enthusiast (played cello) and supporter of musicians. The Prussian court boasted some fine players, among them most worthy to mention were the cello virtuosos Duport brothers, Jean-Louis and Jean Pierre and pianist Friedrich …
We start a new series on Popular Beethoven Magazine, featuring anecdotes from Beethoven’s life. First of the many coming articles is about his horse. Beethoven and his horse It is hard to imagine something that is more strange than a horse-riding Beethoven! A man who lived in the city of Vienna, not owning a house or stable, but frequently moving …