How did you come to love Beethoven?

[Roehre]

, "Don't you just love it there - that wonderful music of Strauss. There are hundreds of them in that family!!!! Don't tell me you can't find one of them to like!". I thought for a moment and said, "Yes, Richard Strauss - the one who died in 1948". .

And THAT Strauss is not even remotely related to the Waltz-dynasty

[Bonn1827]

That was my point in recalling the discussion. She had never heard of Richard Strauss, thinking that name only related to the "waltz king" family. How many other people are similarly confused I wonder?

[Hofrat]

Beethoven was respected and admired (as witnessed by the large numbers at his funeral) but the music wasn't popular in the sense of Italian opera which was the craze. I don't think anyone likes to be unpopular (except some of today's composers who revel in it!) and it did irritate Beethoven that a composer such as Rossini was more popular! I think there is more to the music of Johann Strauss than you are giving credit for - its endurance is just one factor, let alone the respect it earned from many serious composers of the time such as Brahms - his famous remark on an autograph of his 'alas, not by Johann Strauss' reflects his admiration for qualities such as melodic inventiveness and sparkling orchestration.

A lot of blame for Beethoven's unpopularity can be put on the royal family in Vienna as well as the music establishment then. Rossini's visit in Vienna in 1822 demonstates this. Rossini was received by the royal family in Vienna as if he were a king while Beethoven lived in squalor. The music establishment discredited Beethoven any chance they got, but when Rossini visited they took him to a performance of "Eroica" and a piano trio by Beethoven.

[Bonn1827]

I'm not sure about the squalor bit. Apparently he left a pretty fair amount of money in his estate to Karl.

[Hofrat]

Rossini:
"When I decended those delapidated stairs, I retained of my visit to this great man an impression so painful--thinking of this destitution and shabiness--I could not repress my tears."

[terry]

Sorrano,and the others... CHRIS!

I didn't get any e-mails from you.



No, it will never change your password. If you can't remember it, or it isn't working, the forum can e-mail it to you. Or you can ask, and I will reset it for you.

First: thank you Sorrano for having welcomed me, I'm afraid it won't happen often because I'm FED UP with MY PASSWORD WHICH NEVER WORKS ANYTIME I OPEN THE FORUM, EACH TIME I MUST LOG IN AGAIN!!! Excuse me all for the inconvenience, if this is the last time I can join I'll read you in any case.

[Peter]

Rossini:
"When I decended those delapidated stairs, I retained of my visit to this great man an impression so painful--thinking of this destitution and shabiness--I could not repress my tears."

Yes well a lot of that was personal choice including his lack of interest in clothing and personal appearance - he didn't really have to live like that with constant changes of address and his financial affairs though strained by the economic situation were not as dire as he often made out. From Rossini's position of tremendous riches and luxury it would have appeared that way! You only have to look at the last apartment reconstruction to see he was hardly a pauper but a man of modest means.

[terry]

Cocchini

[QUOTE=Cocchini;45983]It

Before I leave, I want to tell you I much like your... avatar (?) with sunglasses and your nick too, because it sounds pleasant in Italian, as the plural of COCCO - COCCHINO which is an affectionate term
I don't know the translation, "darling", "pet" but in some cases it's also used in a sarcastic way (cocco di mamma, mother's pet, the favourite). Btw very funny.
Bye

[Preston]

Ever since I read about a meeting with Beethoven and Rossini, I have loved what Beethoven told Rossini.

"YOU DO NOT KNOW DRAMA"

[Hofrat]

Preston;

Rossini revered Beethoven, and called him "the genius of epoch."

[Michael]

Rossini thought that Beethoven's Ninth (apart from the scherzo) "lacked charm". ?

[Preston]

Preston;

Rossini revered Beethoven, and called him "the genius of epoch."

Hofrat, what does "the genius of epoch mean"?

[Preston]

Rossini thought that Beethoven's Ninth (apart from the scherzo) "lacked charm". ?

I don't know if "charm" was really Beethoven's style. Though, I am sure it was Rossini's.

Now, if Rossini had said that it lacked depth, then that is a different story, !

[Preston]

Preston;

Rossini revered Beethoven, and called him "the genius of epoch."

Even if Rossini revered Beethoven, it does not mean that Rossini knew drama. I am glad Rossini respected Beethoven, he should have. Though, from what I have heard of Rossini's music it does lack drama, depth, realism, seriousness- in other words, it is too fake, in my opinion.

[Bonn1827]

I agree with Peter, and the poor soul had probably descended into alcoholism quite some time before. This does not diminish our sympathy in any way. As somebody wrote recently, Beethoven only ever had "lodgings", he never really had a "home". But, according to the recent film "In Search of Beethoven", he left a decent financial legacy to Karl. We must be careful not to accord martyrdom to what was, after all, a human being. LvB wouldn't want us to think like that anyway!!