Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Georg Friedrich Treitschke, Wien, 3. Juli 1811, Autograph

Beethoven writes to the experienced playwright and director Treitschke, telling him that he now has a translation by Ignaz Franz Castellis of the melodrama "Les ruines de Babylone" by Guilbert de Pixérécourt. He asks Treitschke whether he is still prepared to turn the text into an opera libretto.

Throughout his life Beethoven was always on the lookout for suitable subjects and libretti for operas. He had considered setting "Les ruines de Babylone" to music for a long time, but did not complete the project. When Beethoven undertook the major revision of his opera "Fidelio" in 1814, Treitschke reworked the libretto for it.