But a new topic demands our attention. Beethoven in his later years, in moments of spleen and ill humor, gave utterance both in conversation and in writing to expressions, which have since served as the basis of bitter diatribes against the Vienna public. Czerny--than whom no man could be better informed on the subject of the master's actual position--takes occasion in his notes for Jahn to remark:
It has repeatedly been said in foreign lands that Beethoven was not respected in Vienna and was suppressed. The truth is that already as a youth he received all manner of support from our high aristocracy and enjoyed as much care and respect as ever fell to the lot of a young artist.... Later, too, when he estranged many by his hypochondria, nothing was charged against his often very striking peculiarities; hence his predilection for Vienna, and it is doubtful if he would have been left so undisturbed in any other country. It is true that as an artist he had to fight cabals, but the public was innocent in this. He was always marvelled at and respected as an extraordinary being and his greatness was suspected even by those who did not understand him. Whether or not to be rich rested with him, but he was not made for domestic order.
[Sidenote: THE COURT THEATRES CHANGE MANAGERS]
Upon the correctness of these statements, in so far as they relate to Beethoven's last years, the reader will have ample means of judging hereafter; he knows, that Czerny is right, up to the present date. Indeed, this month of November, to which the letter to Oppersdorff has brought us, affords him excellent confirmation. For, as in the spring so now in autumn, it is Beethoven's popularity that must insure success to the Grand Concert for the public charities; it is his name that is known to be more attractive to the Vienna public than any other, save that of the venerable Haydn; and as Haydn's oratorios are the staple productions at the great charity concerts of vocal music in the Burg theatre, so the younger master's symphonies, concertos and overtures form the most alluring programmes for the instrumental "Academies" in the other theatres--at all events, in 1808, this was the opinion of Joseph Hartl. Beethoven's "princely rabble" had, after a year's experience and pecuniary losses, turned over the direction of the theatre to Government Councillor, now Court Councillor, Joseph Hartl. It was not so much for his love of art, as for the great reputation which his administrative talents had gained him, that Hartl was called to assume the labors of directing the three theatres, then sunk "into the most embarrassing conditions"--a call which he accepted. For three years he administered them wisely, and with all the success possible in the troubled state of the public business and finances.