Karl August Varnhagen von Ense (1785-1858) - Fotografie einer Lithographie von K. Loeillot de Mars

Diplomat and writer Karl August Varnhagen von Ense met Ludwig van Beethoven and his friend Franz Oliva in Teplitz in 1811. Soon, a friendly relationship developed between the three men and Beethoven and Varnhagen spoke about possible new opera projects. Around that time, the diplomat stood up for Beethoven in Prague so that the composer would receive his full pension financed by Prince Kinsky despite the currency devaluation.

Varnhagen met Beethoven a last time in 1814 when he stayed in Vienna on the occasion of the Vienna Congress. By then, Beethoven had changed much and so no close relationship developed between the two. Varnhagen later settled down in Paris and Berlin where he and his wife Rahel were the centrepoint of a literary parlour. His memoirs contain several interesting reports about Beethoven's nature and character.(S.B.)