Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven, Brief an Ferdinand Ries in Godesberg, Wien, 6. Mai 1825, Autograph

In 1825 Ludwig van Beethoven carried on a lengthy correspondence with Ferdinand Ries in Bad Godesberg. It concerned the 8th Lower Rhine Music Festival, which was to take place in Aachen at Whitsun (22/23 May) in 1825. Beethoven's former pupil Ries was on the organizing committee for the music festival and wanted to perform several of his teacher's works. Under discussion were Beethoven's opp. 85, 112, 114, 115, 116, 121b, 124 and 125.

As Ludwig van Beethoven was not feeling well following an attack of colic, his brother Johann sent Ries the promised works - probably opp. 114, 115 and possibly also 117 - with this letter. At the same time he asks Ries to exert his influence over Ludwig, so that he does actually realize his planned oratorio "Der Sieg des Kreuzes" ("The Victory of the Cross"). In the end Ries only performed the Ninth Symphony and the oratorio "Christus am Ölberge" ("Christ on the Mount of Olives") op. 85 at the Lower Rhine Music Festival; the music had not arrived early enough to allow him to copy and rehearse it.