Immortal Beloved

The Immortal Beloved (German "Unsterbliche Geliebte") is the addressee^[1] of a love letter which composer Ludwig van Beethoven wrote on 6 or 7 July 1812 in Teplitz in what would be today Czech Republic. The unsent letter is written in pencil on 10 small pages.^[2]^[3] It was found in the composer's estate following his death and is now in the Berlin State Library.^[4]

Beethoven did not specify a year or a location. In the 1950s an analysis of the paper's watermark yielded the year, and by extension the place of the letter. Scholars disagree about the intended recipient of the letter. Two people favored by most contemporary scholars are Antonie Brentano^[5] and Josephine Brunsvik.^[6] (Other possibilities include Johanna van Beethoven, Julie ("Giulietta") Guicciardi,^[7] Therese Brunsvik,^[8] Amalie Sebald,^[9] Dorothea von Ertmann,^[10] Therese Malfatti,^[11] Anna Maria Erdődy,^[12] and Bettina von Arnim.^[13])

^ There was no address on the letter, and no envelope was found (thus suggesting it was probably never sent). The letter was addressed to "My Angel...", but as the term "Immortal Beloved" (appearing only once towards the end of the letter) was unique in Beethoven's vocabulary, it has been used ever since.
^ For a facsimile, see Brandenburg 2001.
^ For a transcription of the German original, an English translation and helpful historical context, see Brandenburg 2001. The letter was also published by Brandenburg 1996, Letter #582, and Goldschmidt (1980), pp. 21–23; facsimile p. 240 f. An early English translation, with several errors, was offered by Anderson (1961), Letter #373; a much better translation is in Beahrs (1990).
^ The letter's signature is "Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 127."
^ Solomon (1972, 1998), supported by Cooper (2000, 2008), Kopitz (2001) and Lockwood (2003), contested by Goldschmidt (1980), Tellenbach (1983, 1987, 1988, 1993/1994, 1998), Beahrs (1972, 1986, 1988, 1993), Dahlhaus (1991), Pichler (1994), Altman (1996), Meredith (2000), Steblin (2007), and Walden (2011); numerous refutations in The Beethoven Journal 16/1 (Summer 2001), pp. 42–50.
^ La Mara (1920); Kaznelson (1954); Riezler (1962); Massin (1955, 1970); Goldschmidt (1980); Tellenbach (1983, 1987, 1988, 1999); Beahrs (1986, 1988, 1993); Dahlhaus (1991); Pichler (1994); Noering (1995); Steblin (2002, 2007, 2009a).
^ Schindler (1840). Her first name was in fact "Julie", as she was always called (Steblin 2009); in Beethoven's dedication of his Piano Sonata No. 14 (Op. 27, No. 2), which was written in Italian, he referred to her as "Giulietta". For some reason this name has stuck ever since (one of many myths about her, like her incorrect age and wedding date, see Steblin 2009, p. 145).
^ Thayer (rev. Forbes, 1967), Thomas-San-Galli (1909, 1910), La Mara (1920), Rolland (1928)
^ Thomas-San-Galli (1909, 1910); see: Goldschmidt (1977), pp. 182–185, p. 349
^ Marek (1969)
^ Tenger (1890), La Mara (1909).
^ Steichen (1959), Altman (1996).
^ Walden (2002, 2011). According to Varnhagen's diary, 15 February 1856: "Bettina ... claims Beethoven had been in love with her and wanted to marry her! ... Nothing but bubbles and dreams! (Schaum und Traum)" (Tellenbach 1983, p. 101). Being happily married to Achim von Arnim since 1811, she is usually considered one of the less likely candidates for the title of "Immortal Beloved".

[1] There was no address on the letter, and no envelope was found (thus suggesting it was probably never sent). The letter was addressed to "My Angel...", but as the term "Immortal Beloved" (appearing only once towards the end of the letter) was unique in Beethoven's vocabulary, it has been used ever since.

[2] For a facsimile, see Brandenburg 2001.

[3] For a transcription of the German original, an English translation and helpful historical context, see Brandenburg 2001. The letter was also published by Brandenburg 1996, Letter #582, and Goldschmidt (1980), pp. 21–23; facsimile p. 240 f. An early English translation, with several errors, was offered by Anderson (1961), Letter #373; a much better translation is in Beahrs (1990).

[4] The letter's signature is "Mus. ep. autogr. Beethoven 127."

[5] Solomon (1972, 1998), supported by Cooper (2000, 2008), Kopitz (2001) and Lockwood (2003), contested by Goldschmidt (1980), Tellenbach (1983, 1987, 1988, 1993/1994, 1998), Beahrs (1972, 1986, 1988, 1993), Dahlhaus (1991), Pichler (1994), Altman (1996), Meredith (2000), Steblin (2007), and Walden (2011); numerous refutations in The Beethoven Journal 16/1 (Summer 2001), pp. 42–50.

[6] La Mara (1920); Kaznelson (1954); Riezler (1962); Massin (1955, 1970); Goldschmidt (1980); Tellenbach (1983, 1987, 1988, 1999); Beahrs (1986, 1988, 1993); Dahlhaus (1991); Pichler (1994); Noering (1995); Steblin (2002, 2007, 2009a).

[7] Schindler (1840). Her first name was in fact "Julie", as she was always called (Steblin 2009); in Beethoven's dedication of his Piano Sonata No. 14 (Op. 27, No. 2), which was written in Italian, he referred to her as "Giulietta". For some reason this name has stuck ever since (one of many myths about her, like her incorrect age and wedding date, see Steblin 2009, p. 145).

[8] Thayer (rev. Forbes, 1967), Thomas-San-Galli (1909, 1910), La Mara (1920), Rolland (1928)

[9] Thomas-San-Galli (1909, 1910); see: Goldschmidt (1977), pp. 182–185, p. 349

[10] Marek (1969)

[11] Tenger (1890), La Mara (1909).

[12] Steichen (1959), Altman (1996).

[13] Walden (2002, 2011). According to Varnhagen's diary, 15 February 1856: "Bettina ... claims Beethoven had been in love with her and wanted to marry her! ... Nothing but bubbles and dreams! (Schaum und Traum)" (Tellenbach 1983, p. 101). Being happily married to Achim von Arnim since 1811, she is usually considered one of the less likely candidates for the title of "Immortal Beloved".

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