Heinrich Joseph Collin (1772-1811) - Fotografie eines Stichs von Friedrich John nach einer, wohl von Joseph Lange stammenden Vorlage

Poet and play writer Heinrich Joseph von Collin worked as a clerk at the Austrian ministry of finance in Vienna since 1797. Around 1808 he was a close friend of Ludwig van Beethoven.

His tragedy "Coriolan", performed for the first time at the Vienna Hofburg Theater in 1802 and later a constant play of the repertoire, inspired Beethoven to write an overture. The piece dates back to 1807 and was published one year later as Beethoven's op. 62 along with a reference to Collin's drama and a dedication to the

playwright.

At the same time Beethoven and Collin planned a new opera. The themes they favoured included for example "Bradamante" and "Macbeth". Beethoven also thought about composing a musical version of Collin's oratorio "The Liberation of Jerusalem". However, none of these plans was ever carried out.(S.B.)