Beethoven's letters

Beethoven is known globally for his unique music and compositions.

Born in Bonn 1770, Beethoven moved to Vienna in his early 20s, studying with Joseph Haydn and quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

But not many people know Beethoven for the hunderds of letters he wrote in his lifetime.

Beethoven's personal life was troubled by his encroaching deafness and irritability brought on by chronic abdominal pain (beginning in his twenties) which led him to contemplate suicide. Beethoven was often irascible and may have suffered from bipolar disorder. 

Nevertheless, he had a close and devoted circle of friends all his life, thought to have been attracted by his strength of personality. Toward the end of his life, Beethoven's friends competed in their efforts to help him cope with his incapacities.

A lot about Beethoven's life and character you can read out his letters he wrote to friends and people he admired. These letters fortunately survived until today and were published by several publishing houses.

Michael Schwarz-Weber (reader) and Michael Blümel (graphic artist and painter) organized and performed a special reading in November 16, 2011 at the Kulturforum Bad Mergentheim.

While Michael Schwarz-Weber read two dozen of Beethoven's letters, Michael Blümel did simultaneously a "live painting" and created nine paintings inspired by the letter's contents.