Goethe's Portrait (by Josef Stieler)

Beethoven's Portrait (after Letronne)

In this section, we deal with Beethoven's meeting with Goethe in Teplitz in the summer of 1812.     With respect to this, initially, TF reports in the chapter to the year 1812 with respect to his arrival there:

'Passing from the royal and diplomatic circles, we note:

. . .

July 7. Herr Ludwig van Beethoven, Composer, of Vienna, lives in the Eiche, No. 62' [TF: 532.]

View of Teplitz

Goethe is reeported as having noted Beethoven's visit for the first time on July 19, 1812.     With respect to this, TF reports:

'On July 19th, Goethe enters Beethoven's name for the first time among his 'visits'--no doubt those made by him.      On the same day he writes to his wife, who had gone to Karlsbad for a cure: 'Say to His Serene Highness Prince Friedrich, that I can never be with Beethoven without wishing that it were in the goldenen Strauss.     A more self-contained, energetic, sincere artist I never saw.       I can understand right well how singular must be his attitude towards the world.' [TF: 536.]

TF continues as follows:

'Already on the next day Beethoven made a pleasure trip with Goethe to Bilin, and on the 21st Goethe spent the evening with Beethoven.      Hence the note on the 21st, 'He played delightfully.' [TF: 536.]

Let TF continue to report:

'On the 27th of July, Beethoven went to Karlsbad and on August 8th to Franzensbrunn on the advice of his physician, Dr. Staudenheim.      He did not return to Teplitz until the middle of September.      Goethe journeyed to Karlsbad on August 11th.      That there was no estrangement between them is proved by the letter of Goethe to Christiane advising her to give Beethoven a letter to bring back to Teplitz; he therefore expected Beethoven's return there.      Goethe's letter says: 'Herr van Beethoven went to from here to Karlsbad a few days ago; if you can find him, he would bring me a letter in the shortest time.'      On August 2nd, Beethoven is still looked upon as the possible courier: 'If I receive the consignment through Beethoven I will write again, then nothing more will be necessary' (because Goethe himself went to Karlsbad).' [TF: 536.]

As we continue with TF's report, we will find that, in Goethe's comment to Zelter, a different tone was prevalent:

'Goethe wrote to Zelter[18] concerning Beethoven as follows: 'I made Beethoven's acquaintance in Teplitz.     His talent amazed me; unfortunately he is an utterly untamed personality, who is not altogether in the wrong in holding the world to be detestable but surely does not make it the more enjoyable either for himself or others by his attitude.     He is easily excused, on the other hand, and much to be pitied, as his hearing is leaving him, which, perhaps, mars the musical part of his nature less than the social.      He is of a laconic nature and will become doubly so because of his lack.' [TF 536.]

Now, we should also discuss the 'legendary' Teplitz incident.     With respect to this, TF writes:

'A sifting of fact from legend is necessary to complete the story of the relations between Goethe and Beethoven; such, for instance, as the familiar anecdote according to which, when Goethe expressed his vexation at the incessant greetings from passersby, Beethoven is said to have replied: 'Do not let that trouble Your Excellency, perhaps the greetings are intended for me.'      This is variously related to have occurred in a carriage at Karlsbad and in the Prater, and during a walk together on the old walls at Vienna; while the late Joseph Türk, the Vienna jeweler, who was in Teplitz in the summer of 1812, makes that place the scene of the story.     It may, therefore, possibly have some foundation in truth.' [TF: 536.]

The so-called 'Teplitz Incident'

Lewis Lockwood also comments on it:

'7. On the alleged incident see A. Comini, The Changing image of Beethoven: A Study in Mythmaking (NewYork, 1987), 16-18.      The shaky basis for the incident, a letter supposedly written by Beethoven to Bettina Brentano but probably fabricated by her, became a staple of the legend of Beethoven as the ruggedly independent artist, in comparison to Goethe, who still savored the appreciation of the aristocracy and maintained the role of an artist who could defer to them without loss of honor.     But as Comini notes, p. 17, whether or not the incident took place, the divergence in attitudes it presents is fortified by Goethe's description of Beethoven, written from Teplitz on September 2, 1812, as 'an utterly untamed personality.' [Lockwood: 275ff.]

Let us close with Denis Matthews's comment:

'He met and talked with Goethe but was disturbed that such a great man should defer so much to his mere social superiors.' [Matthews: 46ff.]

Now we can refer you to our access page to Beethoven's Subscription Application regarding the Missa solemnis to the Weimar Court of 1823, which you can access through our menu list to the left and which you can, after reading it, click it away without having to leave this presentation.