Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig, Wien, 22. April 1801, Autograph

Breitkopf & Härtel had asked Beethoven for new works. Beethoven enquires, which genre the publisher would like to have and lists several works which have appeared with other publishers. He points out that he himself does not count his first two piano concertos amongst his best works, but "musical politics requires one to keep the best concertos to oneself for a while".

Beethoven makes this comment with regard to the critics of the Leipziger Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, which was also published by Breitkopf & Härtel. He suggests that the critics should generally criticize with more "care and cleverness" as young artists are often made uncertain by scathing reviews. He himself has now learnt how to deal with the "screams of your critics". Beethoven has heard from a friend that a call for donations for Johann Sebastian Bach's youngest daughter has not brought forth very much money at all. He spontaneously suggests giving her the proceeds from one of his next works.