The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume IIThayer, Alexander Wheelock
History
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume II
Thayer, Alexander Wheelock
Beethoven, Ludwig van, 1770-1827
It is conjectured, also, that, at this time and through the influence
of Count Brunswick, Beethoven received the order for his other
principal contributions to dramatic music. In 1808 Emperor Franz had
sanctioned the building at Pesth of “an entirely new grand theatre
with Ridotto room, casino, restaurant and coffee-house,” an enterprise
which, notwithstanding the catastrophe of 1809, it was now thought
would be completed in 1810.[74] It was time therefore to consider the
programme for its opening performances, and as no living musician
could give the occasion so much splendor as Beethoven, it was of high
importance that his consent to compose the music should be secured
as early as possible. This, through Brunswick and other Hungarian
friends, was no difficult task; more especially as the master had a
work of the character required in hand--the “Egmont” music. Another
reason for hastening the business with the composer may have been,
that his consent or refusal must have some influence upon the form and
character of the drama or dramas, which were still to be written. After
Beethoven’s return to the Walfischgasse, his time appears still to
have been exceedingly occupied in composition; so much so as to yield
nothing eventful for a biographer to record. There is, however, one
deeply touching and interesting letter to Gleichenstein which must
be copied complete. Its date is determined by these circumstances,
namely: Poor Breuning had, in April, 1808, married Julie, the beautiful
and highly accomplished daughter of Staff Physician von Vering. Less
than one year thereafter the young wife, by an imprudent use of cold
foot-baths, brought upon herself a hemorrhage of the lungs and died
suddenly, only 19 years of age, March 21, 1809. The letter dates from
this period:
[Sidenote: CONCERNED ABOUT VON BREUNING]
Dear good Gleichenstein! It is impossible for me to refrain from
letting you know of my anxiety for Breuning’s convulsive and
feverish condition, and to beg of you that you strive to form a
closer attachment to him or rather to bind him closer to you; the
condition of my affairs allows me much too little opportunity to
perform the high duties of friendship, I beg of you, I adjure you
in the name of the good and noble sentiments which you surely
feel to take from me upon yourself this truly tormenting care, it
will be particularly beneficial if you can ask him to go here and
there with you, and (no matter how much he may seek to goad you to
diligence) restrain him from his immoderate, and what seems to me
unnecessary, labors. You would not believe in what an overwrought
state I have occasionally found him--you probably know of his worry
of yesterday. All results of the fearful irritability, which, if he
does not overcome it, will certainly be his ruin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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