A look at the amorous life of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the ladies he apparently wooed.
Madalena Willmann
The Bonn-born temperamental musical genius Ludgwig van Beethoven never married, but apparently had many opportunities in his lifetime to tie the knot with various interesting women. It is said that while still a youth in Bonn he had numerous attachments but nothing serious followed. One of these early love interests, a singer, Madalena Willmann, met him many years later and said "he begged me to marry him," but she flatly refused as "he was very ugly and half crazy." His pupil Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) remarked that "Beethoven never visited me more frequently than when I lived in the house of a tailor, with three very hamdsome and respectable daughters."
Eleonora von Breuning
A young woman named Babette was the daughter of the owner of a coffee house where Beethoven often went and she charmed Ludwig, as well as many other town lads. She later became the Countess Belderbusch. Next in line were Eleonora von Breuning, who married someone else, and the Countess Babette de Keglevics to whom Beethoven dedicated his Sonata Opus 7. She later became the Princess Odeschalchi. Of his many female acquaintances in high society might be mentioned the Baroness Ertmann whom he addressed as 'Liebe, werthe, Dorothea Cecilia," and the Countess Erdody , who was the recipient of "Liebe, liebe, liebe, liebe Grafin." Many of these women enjoyed his company and several had great affection for him.The Countess Erdody later had a temple built in her park in memory of Beethoven.
Countess Giulietta Giucciardi
"Life has been made a little brighter to me lately. This change has been brought about by a dear, fascinating girl, whom I love and who loves me. After two years, I bask again in the sunshine of happiness, and now, for the first time, I feel what a truly happy state marriage might be," said Beethoven of his strong feelings for one of his students, Countess Giulietta Giucciardi. It was an unfortunate liaison as Giulietta was in a social stratum to which Beethoven could never belong, and she married someone else.
Bettina von Brentano
Countess Therese von Brunswick had studied with Beethoven in 1794, and was often the unhappy recipient of knuckle-rapping at her lessons. In 1806, however, they became secretly engaged and had the blessing of her brother, but after four years they parted. Then along came Bettina von Brentano, whom he met shortly after the break with Therese. He called her, "dearest friend, dearest girl and dearest, fairest sweetheart," but alas! nothing came of this romantic pairing either.
Ludwig met Amalia Seebald in 1811 and felt an attraction to his lady which is obvious in the inscription he put into her album:
"Ludwig von [sic] Beethoven,
Whom if you ever would,
Forget you never should."
This was a more settled, mature romance and her influence was felt in the Seventh and Eighth Symphonies. This foray into love life also came to naught.
Beethoven died, deaf and unmarried in Vienna in 1827.
Source: Woman's Work in Music, by Arthur Elson, L.C.Page & Company. Boston, 1903
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