Beethoven letter discovered in Germany
A letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven in July 1823 has surfaced in Germany and could be worth up to €150,000 ($192,000), a musical institute said on Monday, according to Spiegel online.
Beethoven wrote the letter in July 1823 to Franz Anton Stockhausen, a composer living in Paris, asking for his help to find sponsors for his piece "Missa solemnis."
In the letter, Beethoven complains about being sick and short of money. "My small income and my sickliness require effort," complains the composer, who died four years after writing it.
The letter will be presented to the public on Jan. 18 and will be put on display at the institute's museum until Jan. 29.
The value of original writings by Beethoven became evident last year when a six-word shopping list he wrote sold for €60,000 at an auction.