August von Kotzebue (1761-1819) - Mezzotinto von Jane Thompson nach einem Gemälde von Hans Schmidt

In his lifetime, August von Kotzebue enjoyed quite a reputation as playwright. He worked in Germany, Vienna and Russia and became director of the Vienna Burgtheater in 1798. Later, he was suspected of being a Russian spy and was assassinated.

Kotzebue temporarily published the magazine "Der Freimütige" (The outspoken) for which he wrote reviews of various Beethoven compositions. When a new theater was inaugurated in Pest in 1811, Kotzebue wrote two stage plays: "König Stephan" (King Stephan) and "Die Ruinen von Athen" (The Ruins of Athens). Beethoven composed a prelude for "König Stephan" (op. 117) and an overture and several other pieces for "Die Ruinen von Athen" (op. 113). He obviously appreciated Kotzebue's texts very much: In 1812 he asked the poet to write a libretto for an opera he wanted to compose. However, this project was never carried out.(S.B.)