User:Zachmathewss/Beethoven concert of 22 December 1808

Beethoven's biographer Thayer writes, "the pecuniary results of this concert to Beethoven are not known"; adding however that there is a record indicating that Prince Esterházy ordered "the sum of 100 gulden to be paid to Beethoven in support of this "musical Akademie."

Beethoven was in an awkward spot in his life following this concert. It was apparent he was going to leave Vienna, as he had been offered a Kappelmeister position in Kassel, Germany some time before the concert. It seemed cleared that he would accept this offer, as finding the same position and living situation in Vienna was highly unlikely. The plans for a new opera had peeled away, and he faced a large amount of backlash when trying to fulfill his Akademien. "Beethoven had every intention of moving to Kassel. He wrote in a letter dated January 7, 1809 to Breitkopf and Härtel that he had actually fully accepted the offer, and felt as though he needed the space away from Vienna so he could 'espace the conflict and harsh environment'."Beethoven eventually appointed his secretary, Ignaz von Gleichenstein, to secure this contract. During this time, however, Gleichenstein was also working on a plan with Anna Maria von Erdődy, a close friend to Beethoven, in hopes to keep Beethoven in Vienna. The two set out a list of people to help bring together a contract and financial solution in order to convince Beethoven to stay. The first person being Archduke Rudolph. He and Beethoven had a great relationship, and the Fourth Piano Concerto was actually written for him. After Rudolph agreed to help financially, they sought aftere Prince von Lobkowitz, who had previously advocated for Beethoven to work in Vienna. Lastly, they contacted Prince Ferdinand Kinsky, who was willing to aid Beethoven however he could.

The sum of the contract was simple. 4,000 guilders to keep Beethoven in Austria; 1,800 from Kinsky, 1,500 from Rudolph, and 700 from Lobkowitz. This allowance was much more than what Beethoven could ever hope for in Kassel. Beethoven would also be given the title of "Imperial Kappelmeister" He was also required to give one benefit concert annually and had to live in Vienna or a nearby state. Beethoven signed the final version of this contract on March 1, 1809, became more known as the edict and excluded many of the rules stated within the contract.