Beethoven and Franz Clement

Beethoven and Franz Clement

Who was Franz Clement? Franz Joseph Clement (November 17, 1780 Vienna – November 3, 1842 Vienna) was an Austrian violinist and composer, director and concertmaster of the Theater an der Wien. Young Franz played the violin since the age of four. His main teacher was his father who was a butler for a nobleman and a member of his house …

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The meeting of Beethoven and Goethe

The meeting of Beethoven and Goethe

They say, what Kant was to philosophy, it was Goethe to letters and Beethoven in music. Sometimes expectations are exceeding reality and not every acquaintance is for the eternity. Who was Goethe? Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was, mainly, a German poet and novelist. He was also a genius, who worked on several other …

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Beethoven residences: Teplitz

Beethoven residences: Teplitz

The City Teplitz (or Teplice) is a small city in the Czech Republic. After Karlovy Vary, it is the second biggest spa town in the country. The first authentic mention of the thermal springs is from the 16th century. The city name appeared for the first time in 1154, when a Benedictine convent was founded in the area. During the …

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Beethoven and Shakespeare

Beethoven and Shakespeare

Did Beethoven read Shakespeare? Did he like the writer, was he inspired by his plays? Read on to find out! Did Beethoven read and like Shakespeare? Beethoven’s first exposure to Shakespeare had to be in his childhood, still in Bonn, at the local court theater. It is well documented that more plays from Shakespeare were on the repertoire: Hamlet, King …

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Beethoven residences: Mödling

Beethoven residences: Mödling

The City Today, Mödling is the capital of the Austrian district of the same name. It is located approximately 14 km to the South of Vienna. The settlement has history from the New Stone Age and its name has Slavic origin, meaning slowly running water. In Beethoven’s day Mödling was a small market town with some 300 houses. The houses …

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