16. Beethoven's first PUBLIC APPEARANCE IN VIENNA

PROGRAM OF THE MUSICAL ACADEMY AT THE BURGTHEATER, MARCH 29, 1795 In this concert Beethoven performed his Second Piano Concerto, opus 19, which he had just completed, but which was still unpublished. The evening had been arranged for the benefit of the "Widows' and Orphans' Fund of the Society of Musicians." ( National Library, Vienna)
 
THE NATIONAL COURT THEATER OF VIENNA Colored engraving by Tranquillo Mollo The concert mentioned above took place in this theater. The following day Beethoven participated in another concert in which he played brilliant piano improvisations. On March 31st he played a Mozart piano concerto in a concert arranged by Mozart's widow . . . In the same hall the ballet music to "Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus" was performed in 1801, and in 1810, the music to "Egmont" was heard. ( Historical Museum of the City of Vienna)
-64-
 
REVIEW OF THE CONCERT OF MARCH 29, 1795 An excerpt from the Wiener Staatszeitung of April 1, 1795. ( Municipal Library, Vienna)
 
FIRST PIANO CONCERTO, C MAJOR, OPUS 15, By LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN Title page with dedication to his pupil Princess Odescalchi, née Countess Keglevics This concerto, composed in 1795-96 and then again in 1798, was completed only after the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, No. 2, B flat major, opus 19. Probably it was first performed by Beethoven himself in Prague in 1798. It was published by T. Mollo in Vienna in 1801, after the Countess' marriage to Prince Odescalchi. (van Hoboken, Ascona)
 
"DER KOHLMARKT" IN VIENNA Colored engraving by L. Beyer One of the main streets of Vienna on which Artaria & Co. was located, the art and publishing house which published many of Beethoven's works. The Artaria shop is in the foreground at the right. ( Historical Museum of the City of Vienna)
-65-