At the time of Beethoven Vienna was full of talented musicians. Some of them extraordinary, but very few were favorably compared to him – especially with the piano. There was one exception… Who was Joseph Woelfl? Joseph Johann Baptist Woelfl (surname sometimes written as Wölfl or Wölffl) was a pianist and composer from Austria (24 December 1773 – 21 …
Songs was not main or very important genre for Beethoven, but among them Adelaide is the most favored. The poet, Friedrich von Matthisson Friedrich von Matthisson (01.23.1761, Hohendodeleben, near Magdeburg – 03.12.1831, Wörlitz, Anhalt-Dessau) was a German poet. As a profession he graduated in philology at the University of Halle, later in 1812 he entered the service of the king …
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 …
Beethoven, during his life visited Prague three times. This article will follow him and the events of these occasions. In February 1796, Beethoven’s friend and patron Prince Karl Lichnowsky took the young composer on a concert tour, just as he did seven years before with Mozart. Presumably the Prince was hoping for similar success with his new protégé. In Prague …
It was customary to have annual concerts in Vienna benefiting the widows of the Tonkünstler-Societät (Society of Musicians). In 1795, Gassmann, who was the organizer of such events, announced the date for March 29 and 30. The event would feature a vocal and an instrumental part. The vocal was a two parts oratorio by Antonio Cartellieri, titled Gioas, Re di …
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 …