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It is remarkable how many members of high society recognized Beethoven's genious and furthered his career. They did not seem disturbed by his urge for independence or his lack of manners.
COUNT MORITZ LICHNOWSKY (1771-1837) Oil painting He was a younger brother of Prince Karl, and as Karl an ardent musician. A former pupil of Mozart, he was a more gifted pianist than his older brother. All his life he was a sincere friend to Beethoven. On several occasions his influence prevented the undisciplined musician from suffering serious difficulties. (Collection Lichnowsky, Grätz)
FIFTEEN PIANO VARIATIONS WITH FUGUE, E FLAT MAJOR, OPUO 35 Title page with dedication to Count Moritz Lichnowsky These variations are written on a theme from "The Creatures of Prometheus." They were composed in 1802 and published by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in 1803. ( Society of Friends of Music, Vienna)
PIANO SONATA, E MINOR, OPUS 90 Title page with dedication to Count Moritz Lichnowsky Composed in 1814, published by S. A. Steiner in Vienna in 1815. ( Society of Friends of Music, Vienna)
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JOSEPHINE, PRINCESS VON LIECHTENSTEIN, NÉE PRINCESS VON FÜRSTENBERG (1776-1836) After an engraving, not signed The Princess studied piano playing under Beethoven's guidance. In appreciation of her talent the composer dedicated his "Sonata quasi una Fantasia per il Clavicembalo," opus 27, No. 1, to her. ( National Library, Vienna)
JOHANN JOSEPH, PRINCE VON LIECHTENSTEIN (1768-1836) Engraving by Pichler after Friedrich Heinrich Füger The prince maintained an orchestra and sponsored concerts in his palace. ( National Library, Vienna)
"SONATA QUASI UNA FANTASIA PER IL CLAVICEMBALO" IN E FLAT MAJOR, OPUS 27, No. 1 Title page with dedication to Princess von Liechtenstein The sonata was composed ca. 1801 and was published as the first of two piano sonatas, opus 27, Nos. 1 and 2, by Cappi in Vienna in March, 1802. ( Society of Friends of Music, Vienna)
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THREE PIANO SONATAS, OPUS 10 Title page with dedication to Countess von Browne These sonatas were published by Joseph Eder in Vienna in July, 1798 and offered by subscription. ( van Hoboken, Ascona)
JOHANN GEORG IMPERIAL COUNT VON BROWNE-CAMUS (1767-1827) Engraving by J. G. Mansfeld Beethoven from 1798 to 1804 had a fervent and generous patron in the Count von Browne, ≪le premier mécène de ma muse≫, as he wrote somewhat unfairly in view of Prince Lichnowsky's equal generosity. Beethoven dedicated a number of his works to Count von Browne, particularly Seven Variations for piano and cello on a theme from Mozart "Magic Flute"; Three Trios for violin, viola and cello, opus 9; the Piano Sonata, opus 22; and Six Lieder for piano and voice on poems by Gellert, opus 48. To the Count's wife, Anna Margerita Browne, née Vietinghoff, Beethoven dedicated the three sonatas for piano, opus 10; 12 Variations for piano "on a Russian Theme," and 6 Variations for piano "on a Theme by Süssmayr."
GRAND SONATA FOR PIANO, B FLAT MAJOR, OPUS 22 Title page with dedication to Count von Browne The work, composed in 1800, was published by Hoffmeister in Viennain 1802. ( van Hoboken, Ascona)
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QUINTET FOR PIANO, OBOE, CLARINET, BASSOON AND HORN, E FLAT MAJOR, OPUS 16 Title page with dedication to Prince Schwarzenberg At an "Academy" arranged by Schuppanzigh Beethoven played the piano part of this quintet when it was premiered on April 6, 1797. The performance was a great success. The work was published by T. Mollo in Vienna in 1801. ( van Hoboken, Ascona)
JOSEPH JOHANN, PRINCE VON SCHWARZENBERG (1769-1855) Engraving by C. Pfeiffer after J. Oelenhainz Prince Schwarzenberg also maintained a house orchestra. In his palace the Septet, opus 20, was first performed. Beethoven dedicated his Quintet, opus 16, to him. ( National Library, Vienna)
COUNT AND COUNTESS MORITZ VON FRIES WITH THEIR SON Oil painting by Baron von Gérard Count von Fries, a passionate music lover, arranged some of the finest concerts in his palace. A spendthrift, he also was one of Beethoven's most generous patrons. Beethoven dedicated some of his most important works to him: the Sonatas for piano and violin, opus 23 and 24, the String Quintet, opus 29, and the Seventh Symphony, opus 92. ( National Library, Vienna)
QUINTET FOR TWO VIOLINS, TWO VIOLAS, AND VIOLONCELLO, C MAJOR, OPUS 29 Title page with dedication to Count von Fries The quintet was completed in 1801. Since Artaria had failed him, Beethoven had it published by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in 1802. Irritated by such procedure, Artaria immediately printed a second edition, claiming that it was "a revised and corrected version by Beethoven himself." ( van Hoboken, Ascona)
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SONATA FOR PIANO AND VIOLIN, F MAJOR, OPUS 24 Title page with dedication to Count von Fries This so-called "Spring Sonata" was published by T. Mollo in Vienna in 1801. The errors contained in the title of the first edition are explained by the fact that originally the two sonatas opus 23 and opus 24 were to be published as one single opus. ( van Hoboken, Ascona)
MANUSCRIPT OF THE "SPRING SONATA," OPUS 24 First page of the manuscript At the beginning of the work the author wrote "Sonata da L. v. Beethoven," further down on the same page his note to the copyist: "All abbreviations are to be written in full." ( National Library, Vienna)
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SIX QUARTETS FOR TWO VIOLINS, VIOLA AND VIOLONCELLO, OPUS 18 AND 19 The first three quartets were published as opus 18 by Mollo in Vienna in June, 1801, the other three as opus 19 in October of the same year. Later the six quartets were joined and called opus 18. ( van Hoboken, Ascona)
PRINCE LOBKOWITZ' PALACE IN VIENNA After a water color by R. Reuss ( Historical Museum of the City of Vienna)
FRANZ JOSEPH MAX, PRINCE LOBKOWITZ (1772-1816) Engraving by C. Pfeiffer after J. Oelenhainz The Prince, himself a violinist, met Beethoven soon after his arrival in Vienna. Enchanted by the young genius, he patronized Beethoven and was a constant friend until his death. Beethoven showed his gratitude by dedicating to him the Six Quartets, opus 18 ( 1801), the Concerto for piano, violin and cello, opus 56 ( 1807), the Quartet, opus 74 ( 1810), the song cycle "To the Immortal Beloved," opus 98 ( 1816), and above all the "Eroica," opus 55 ( 1806). To both the Prince and Count Rasumoffsky he also dedicated the Fifth Symphony, opus 67, and the "Pastoral Symphony," opus 68 ( 1809). Many of Beethoven's works were performed by the orchestra of the Lobkowitz palace. ( National Library, Vienna)
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