Autograph Letter to Carl Maria von Weber

Autograph letter signed by the great Italian composer, regarded by Beethoven as the greatest of his contemporaries, to Carl Maria von Weber.  1 page, integral address leaf.  Berlin, 1806. Translated in part: "I had hope to come see you this morning as I had promised but I awoke somewhat too late, very tired. I went to find you at the Theatre where they told me you would be rehearsing.  Not having found you there, I am writing you to ask if you would give the honor of joining me for dinner this evening."

Both composers had evidently found themselves in Berlin at this time and were arranging to meet, either at the Theater itself, or at Cherubini's hotel ("l'hotel Matthieu").
Cherubini was primarily in Vienna from 1805 - 1808, where his Faniska made such a success that it was deemed excessive praise to Beethoven's Fidelio to predict, as someone did, that one day it would "rank as high as Cherubini's Faniska."

In 1804, von Weber was appointed conductor at Breslau (now Wroclaw), and in 1806, he became musical director for Duke Eugen of Wurttemberg, gaining a reputation as an exceptional pianist. His personal life during this time remained irregular: he left his post in Breslau in a fit of frustration, was on one occasion arrested for debt and fraud, and was involved in a variety of scandals. However, he remained successful as a composer.  (12942)

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Autograph Letter

Classical Music

Opera

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