Stephan von Breuning (1774-1827) mit seiner Familie - Fotografie nach einem anonymen Aquarell

One of the closest friends of Ludwig van Beethoven was Stephan von Breuning. Both men knew each other from their childhood in Bonn when Beethoven was a frequent guest at the Breuning family. At that time they both took violin lessons from Franz Anton Ries (1755-1846).

After they briefly lost sight of each other when Beethoven left Bonn, their contact became more intensive from 1801 onwards. When Stephan von Breuning completed his law studies, he moved to Vienna. Despite several disputes and a complete interruption of their contact between 1815 and 1825, their friendship lasted a life long. During the last two years of the composer's life, von Breuning and Beethoven were particularly close.

Stephan von Breuning not only had a personal interest in Beethoven but he also took part in his friend's artistic activities. In 1806 he revised the text that Joseph Sonnleithner had written for Beethoven's opera "Leonore" and thus produced a libretto that met the composer's expectations. Two years later Beethoven dedicated his violin concert in D major, op. 61, to his friend - maybe as a token of his gratitude. The adaptation of this piece for piano, done by Beethoven himself, was later dedicated to Breuning's first wife Julie (born von Vering). She was a good friend of Beethoven as well and often played the piano four-handed with him.(S.B.)