Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an die k.k. Hoftheaterdirektion, Wien, vor dem 4. Dezember 1807

Beethoven applies to the management of the Royal Court Theatre for a job. He promises to compose an opera once a year and in return asks for 2,400 florins as well as the takings from the third performance. In addition he is also prepared to compose an operetta, a divertimento or another work of similar proportions free-of-charge if he may use the premises for his own academy once a year.

Independent of the decision regarding the job, he asks for permission to hold his planned academy in one of the theatre buildings one of these days. According to the BGA the theatre management discussed his application and rejected it. Beethoven had already been employed by a theatre as a composer of operas and musical director from 1803 to 1804. This was at the Theater an der Wien, where he also lived whilst employed there.