The reference letter Count Waldstein wrote for Beethoven?

[thesunlover]

Where can I find the reference letter that Count Waldstein wrote to Prince Lichnowsky for Beethoven in 1792? Any idea?

Thanks

[Michael]

I thought this would be relatively easy to find but no! I checked around a few of my books, and on the internet, and while I find many references to the letter, the actual text does not appear anywhere.
Maybe I missed it somewhere and somebody else can help?

[thesunlover]

It's not easy to find it. Can someone help on this?

The following words by Waldstein can be found in many Beethoven books:

"An album amicorum from this time records the good wishes of a large number of his friends, who had no reason to expect that he would be leaving Bonn for ever. None of the entries was more prophetic than that of Waldstein:

Dear Beethoven: You are going to Vienna in fulfilment of your long-frustrated wishes. The Genius of Mozart is still mourning and weeping over the death of her pupil. She found a refuge but no occupation with the inexhaustible Haydn; through him she wishes once more to form a union with another. With the help of assiduous labour you shall receive Mozart’s spirit from Haydn’s hands. Your true friend, Waldstein."

[Albert Gans]

Probably you've already tried this: maybe get in touch with the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn?

[thesunlover]

Very interesting suggestion. I will give it a shot. Thanks

[thesunlover]

I don't think it's still existing. I can't even find one letter Beethoven wrote to Prince Lichnowsky - they had a good relationship for at leave 12 years. It appears this prince didn't like to keep letters.

[Junggai]

I believe you're all thinking of the so-called "Stammbuch," which isn't a reference letter at all, but a book full of well-wishes that Beethoven's friends wrote him as he left Bonn for Vienna. The original does indeed still exist, and is held in the Austrian National Library:

http://data.onb.ac.at/rec/AL00569908

The full contents have been published, in a 1970 edition by the Beethoven Haus edited by Max Braubach, but outside of the famous Waldstein entry, it's never been translated into English.

[thesunlover]

Junggai, Thank you for the info. I do ask the reference letter W wrote to L for B. I didn't confuse the two documents. Please see my post #3 where I cited the words W wrote in "Stammbuch".

[thesunlover]

When Beethoven arrived in Vienna in November 1792, he had a letter of introduction from Count Waldstein to Prince Karl Lichnowsky, one of Vienna's foremost patrons of the arts.

This secured him not just a small apartment - in the attic of the Lichnowsky's sumptuous apartment in the Alstergasse - but a patron of inestimable worth.

The young man was soon performing at the Friday concerts held by Prince Lichnowsky in his salon, and meeting the men and women of influence in the arts.

http://www.classicfm.com/composers/b...rl-lichnowsky/