Nikolaus Galitzin, Brief an Ludwig van Beethoven in Wien, Petersburg, 29. November 1823, Autograph

Prince Galitzin expresses thanks for being sent the Mass op. 123. He has already had a quick look at the score and is delighted. He is planning a performance and is certain of its success.

The Missa solemnis was first performed in its complete form by Galitzin on 7 April 1824 in St. Petersburg.

The Prince regrets that he has not yet received the piano sonatas (the Sonata op. 111 and the Variations op. 120) which Beethoven has promised (the package probably went astray). He proudly reports that he has already arranged several of Beethoven's sonatas for string quartet.

Prince Galitzin played the cello and revered Beethoven's piano works. As he did not play the piano he arranged his favourite pieces so that he could perform them with his own string quartet. Galitzin says that he is also able to get to know Beethoven's sonatas as rendered by the pianist Zeuner. Whenever the pianist visits Galitzin he always also has to play Beethoven's sonatas.

Galitzin writes scathingly about the music taste of the times in Europe, which is characterized by "Italian charlatanism". However he is sure that these fashions will pass; Beethoven's masterpieces on the other hand are immortal. Galitzin greatly hopes to soon receive a new quartet from Beethoven (in November he had commissioned Beethoven to write three quartets).

Prince Galitzin was certainly what we would nowadays call an ardent fan, He showers Beethoven with praise and complimentary phrases, flattering him to such an extent that the pompous text is sometimes almost embarrassing. Here is an example: As Galitzin is too young to have known the famed Mozart and had only know Haydn in his last years when he was a child in Vienna, he considers himself to be incredibly fortunate to be a contemporary of the third musical hero (Beethoven), who is only matched by the previous two and whom one must rightly call the God of melody and harmony.