When Beethoven was conducting his Symphony No. 9 for the first time, the musical world was very critical of that piece. Zelter said: „It’s a genius who decorates a pig with jewelry ”. Mendelssohn said that: „This is a music written by a drunken man for a Good Tuesday”, but the Symphony was greatly acclaimed by the audience who couldn’t stop clapping after the concert. Beethoven, who was already deaf at that time, didn’t notice the reaction of the audience, who felt dismissed. Finally the singer Karolina Unger approached the composer and turned him towards the audience. Then moved Beethoven thanked the audience for that incredibly warm acclamation of his piece.
Beethoven wasn’t a convenient tenant. He never wanted to comply with any regulations. He played at night keeping his neighbours awake. That’s why he was often evicted and he had to move out many times.
There was a funny story connected with on of Beethoven’s flats. That flat was particularly liked by the composer and after moving out he wanted to come back there. Then the landlord agreed to take him back if he bought a new blinds, because the old ones had disappeared. Beethoven agreed.
The curiosity – what happened with the previous żaluzje made him feel uncomfortable. Finally he came to the truth. It turned out that the landlord sold the blinds to some rich Americans for exuberant price as the autographs of a famous musician; Beethoven had a custom to compose standing by the window and to write down some of his thoughts and musical motives on blinds.
When he came to the truth he was greatly amused. He decided to continue putting down some of his thoughts at the blinds. But the words which he wrote down there were so dirty, that they could embarrass even those used to such swearing. In that way the new blinds stayed where they were.
Once Beethoven dropped in to a restaurant to have dinner, but as he was very absent-minded he forgot what he actually came there for. He was asked by a waiter a few times what he would like to order but he didn’t pay any attention to that. After an hour Beethoven caled the waiter and asked him:
- How much do I pay?
- Sir, you haven’t ordered anything yet and I would like to ask you what I can do for you?
- O, just bring whatever you want and leave me alone!
Once Goethe and Beethoven went for a walk outside Karlsbad as they wanted to talk peacefully. Yet they was meeting so many walkers who bowed to them with great respect. Finally impatient Goethe said:
- What a tiring thing. I can’t find a place where I’m not greeted with honors.
- But please, don’t be so nervous. It is very possible that all those honors are meant for me.
Daniel Steibelt, Vienna pianist virtuoso was known as a very self confident and stuck up man. When Beethoven became really famous, Steibelt decided to challenge him. Beethoven agreed. Steibelt played first and then it was Beethoven’s turn. He was very bored and he put Steibelt’s score on the stand do up side down. He started improvising in such an inspiring way that Steibelt got pale and he left the building not even waiting till the end of Beethoven’s performance.
From that time when he was invited to play somewhere he agreed under the condition: Beethoven wasn’t there.
On 12 July 1845 the monument of Beethoven was to be unveiled. Without much warning English queen Victoria who was visiting Germany and Prussian king Frydery the 4th came to the celebration. The dignified guests with the numerous retinue appeared very suddenly and the organizing committee put them on the balcony of the count Fürstenberg palace.
After listening to the anthem the curtain from the bronze monument fell down, and the Prussian king suddenly started laughing – the Beethoven’s monument turned its back on them.
Alexande Humboldt, the eminent geographer, the member of the organizing committee quickly saw the mistake being made as a result of a hurry and he told all the guests:
- Your Royal Highnesses! It is commonly known that Beethoven was a great composer but he was a bit heathen. And even today, after his death we see one more proof that he fully deserved that opinion.
The anecdotes come from "Plotki z pięciolini" book by Roman Heising, 1977, PWM edition, www.pwm.com.pl
