New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-09
WHO OWNS BEETHovENs vIoLoNcELIo,
INTERESTING LETTER FROM Mr.. rHAYER-rHs


Widow IIolz in 1860 when he went to price the
original for Boston gentleman. 1t appears that
vloonceo going about the world with the repu-
tatlon of having belonged to the quartet which Prince
Lichn0wsky presented TO Beethoven. The story Is
fully told in the following letters and documents,
which will be read with interest By all admirers Of
Beethoven and the publication of which, it is to be
hoped will help bring about final determination of
the vexed question as the present whereabouts Of
the authentic Beethoven instruments
Trieste. JAM g. 1890.
Dear Mr. Krehbiel: In letter to me of December
IS last, from Mr. Kanitz, director OF the Vienna
Clearing House {" Giro und Cassen Verem9' Is the
NoG long ago a Herr DR.. Katzan PLAYED tho
violoncco at my house. lie IS now the lucky owner
OF the instrument which once belonged 70 beeta0yeh
At two places neehoven's seal l.. " b." Is sun TO
be seen. Immediately after Beethovens deatn Iioz
bought the instrument It is large beautiful Italian
Thereupon / wrote to Mr.. Kanitz: " Look into my
Beethoven, Vol H., III, 1ls, and read What Is ssm
upon BeethOvcn's instruments. Your Dr. X. has
evidently been cheated by somebody. Beethoyehs
quartet Of instruments is in the Koenig Blbnothek N
Berlin, with all the necessary documents u prove their
genuineness. The same question came up IN 1732, IN
Sa 6@cS to one 81 See the b S WIZ" Ma zng 5e
;Jahr1; p 32s, and 36o Dr. KS cello or the cello
1t will be noticed that there is nothing absolutely
decisive in the accompanying papers. The question
is one Of interest mutudes OF music lovers and OF
WIeh possesses the genuine instrument It Is to be-
bopcd that the Library directors will meet the wish Of
an whO take interest in the matter by publishing the
documents which attest the Genuneness Of the in.
struments in their possession Very truly r yours ,
The documents which Mr.. Thayer submits with his
letter read, in translation follows:
t.
Much Respected Director: With this take the
liberty Of returning the book SO hhdy eht 10 me- as
also the card Of Mr.. Imyer, with many thanks. the
more and the hearter since the lhayer biography
who'e contents were heretofore HIAho~n 70 me ' On
t1in5 particularly valuable PROOF oI ,tss
authenticity Of the instrument concerning VINCE
aSeT Mr. ' rler uo ie scarcely have 50 writer
il he had known the fact. which thought had 31
Won. that houCh the instrument Of the son OF thei
Mr.. Philip Werhcimer, who, according to Ih3yer,
own statement bage 10 o"ned Ine nrT tr year,
Repeating my thanks for the courtesy shown me am
yours specially, DIX hAlLAN'
Vienna, JAN 3, 1890
Extract from the "Neue Frce Presse7 Of Vienna Of
June -. 1755:
Apropo, Of the refinement Of the remains Of Beet
hoycu In the grave Of honor of the CehtraI tteouol'
the public might be interested In learning what be-
came Of the valuable instruments leg by BeeJhoSyen
on the back Of each Of these Instruments This was
certified to by the former lower nuSlran Ooai, III
authentic combinations under notaral seal OF tho
Lichnow,ky q Beethoven are in my possession. Inc
INV eldest brother. peter III Jokits by purchase il
itIil yho paid' think. 900 thalers for them Al
though manv offers Immediately maze 70 NV
brother by Austrian and foreign amateurs and par
Internationally declined. then all I'm favor 81 3
I,c 1q Of beethoven Nv dearly beloved brother
who has since died presented the Instruments 10 te
lion to be called the ~Iodts foundation be estao,
l,hcd. and that annually on ne nrtnaay 81 [ ~
concert should be given IN Berlin At when music Dy
Beethoven should he played upon the Beethoven IT.
stmments -tn have the lelier on me su!e.' 81 a.,
touching the prescribed concerts, nave never oeen
able TO learn ANYTHING. Eesp",trInE' >,- rovrrs
III
DR. Rattan furnishes Mr.. Kanitz with the copy or
an atcstaton from instrument repairer as follows;
Respected Madame: l received the yol9nceno
through thc agency Of Herr Won HON. no" uedu, NM
20" he ron %elr ' anG s6d x To Herr yon werthemer
ior go or 900 hon. II gTtc Xnciress That h
y,os Peihovcn's yioloncellO is proved by the two
Vienna, March Is, ISL. FISCHER NJ T.
Wagner now dominates the list at the Metropolitan
Onera House and great crowds nightly attest the popu-
rity Of the works Of that master mind in the field OF
the lyric drama For the first performance Of Die
Coctter,lacrmerunc~ last Friday night the house was
sold ont DAY, in advance. For this week the operas
mr., " Die Walkuere@ on Wednesday Drst performance
th!, season. and Lohen-rn7 on Friday. Beginning
on February Do all OF the Wagner operas III tie active
list from RienHT TO "GOcteriaemmcrung7 inclusive
will leo given in chronological succession,
.,vo that Die Mei,tersnscr7 will preccde Tristan
ind ISOLDE An extra performance viii be
given at the opera on February -, for the benefit OF
Madame Lehman. at which that great artist will
appear in Norma
The third concert Of the Boston symphony orchestra
will take place in -teuvay Hall on Tuesday evening,
when Mr. Jo,cTy viii De- The solo performer and the
programme will be A. follows: symphony in Il B.
a H.. so. 49,. Haydn; Concerto No. , major.
List suite " Peer Gyut" Gricg; observation-disclosures,
Romeo and Juliet T,chaihowsky.
The fourth concert Of the arooblyn Philharmonic
de Yer, will sing the selections fiom Mozarts Magic
Fute~ and spohr's "Jcs,onda in which she
heard at one of the concerts Of the New York Philhar
monte society and the orchestra Will play the SYM
phony from Bach's "Christmas oratorio" Mozats
symphony in f. fiat Dv0lal's schcrzo Carprlccoso.'
the overture 10 Spohr', JeS-onda, and the septe by
Beethoven
Master Hcsnet Will play at the sixth Thomas Popular
Concert in the LcnoN Lyccum this evening and the
programme of the entertainment will be as follows
Overture, Jubilee '-... Weber
i,trSn and Ed, OF tgc yasyri,, wa o,1
o,srtgrc. 'M4,umm'r Nights Dr am" Mendel>soha
N''' ''' Miss Adele strauss
'"',' Ha,Jt o,to lIcencr and orchestra ''"'''"
Polka iialour.a. .En Herr uni Elm Sim" Strauss
Aria from Home and julie, ...... BeiIini
Suite, sylvia" ................ Dslbes
The church Choral Society which wa, organized
last season lor .Nle purpose OF performing oIdloV">
cantatas, MASSES etc. IN of the larger churches
81 the city, under the more solemn and impressive
circumstances conditioned by such SURROUNDINGS. VIII
TIL, season hold two services. performing Mtu-
de,Sohu's Hymn of Praise" and List, Thirteenth
Psalm AT the first and Gounod's " Nors ct VIA Az
the second. Mr. Richard Henry Warren l. conductor
OF the society. which has the approval of the Bishop
Of the diocese and many rccOrs clergy men ana
prominent ldymcn.
Notes and Announccmcnts.-Thc German Lieder.
krinz will give q concert IN it, hall this
evening. M"ssrS. Chicherng sons have
engaged vladimir DE- Iachmanu. the Russian pianist.
who is 50 popular IN London, for series Of Chopin