Beethoven and the Immortal Beloved letters

Ludwig Van Beethoven

While he may be known for his famous compositions and the fact that he was deaf when he composed them. German pianist, Beethoven was a predominant musical figure who still makes his mark up to this very time and age.

The Origin of the Letters

In the summer of 1812, advised by his physician, Beethoven goes to the Czech resort, Teplitz. Even though the summer spent here didn’t have any positive influences on his state of health, it was very fruitful in memorable and interesting encounters. One of those encounters was the one between Beethoven and German poet Johann von Goethe. But the summer of 1812 is also important because it was the time when Beethoven wrote a set of mysterious letters that created numerous commentaries and assumptions among Beethoven scholars. The letters are known as “The Immortal Beloved Letters”

 While Beethoven has never disclosed who his “Immortal Beloved” really was, there were a few women who have been known to be the object of Beethoven’s affection. (Giulieta Guicciardi, Thereza von Brunswick, Amalia Seebald and Antonie Brentano. ) However, recent research has led to the conclusion that the immortal beloved is almost certainly the last of the candidates presented above, Antonie Brentano.

The letters were found after his death.


Out of the three this one, to me, was the most beautiful of all:

" Good morning, on July 7

      Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mail coach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a clam consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine

ever mine

ever ours "