Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Beethoven's Residence

That's the building in which 1802 the composer Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his Heiligenstadt Testament. Heiligenstadt, at that time situated far outside the city limits, has long since been incorporated into the city as part of the 19th district. The testament is a letter to his two brothers and reflects his despair over his increasing deafness and his desire to overcome his physical and emotional ailments to complete his artistic destiny. Beethoven kept the document hidden among his private papers for the rest of his life, and probably never showed it to anyone. It was only discovered in March 1827, after Beethoven's death.

2 comments:

  1. A beautiful courtyard and building... and such history.

    A tormented man, but he gave the world so much beautiful music.

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