· Classical
Who was Beethoven’s “Elise”?
Beethoven’s Bagatelle No. 25 which is most known as ‘Für Elise’ (German for ‘for Elise’) is one of the most famous piano pieces in the world.
The composer wrote this piece on April 27, 1810, but never published this piece of music. In 1822 Beethoven revised it slightly and shoved it into the drawer. Beethoven died, and his bagatelle never saw the light of day.
Only 40 years after Beethoven's death, in 1867, musicologist Ludwig Nohl found this piece and published it.
Who Was Elise?
There is no conclusive answer to this question.
Therese Malfatti։ Beethoven’s student. In 1810 she was his student and the composer fell in love with her.
Juliane Katharine Elisabet Barensfeld։ Therese Malfatti's Friend. Barensfeld was Therese Malfatti's neighbor and could have been her piano student. According to the theory, Beethoven was willing “to do his beloved Therese a favour”.
Elisabeth Röckel - an opera singer: A few years before writing the composition, Beethoven met an opera singer Elisabeth Röckel, whose nickname could have been Elise. Röckel played Florestan in Beethoven’s opera “Fidelio”. They were close friends until she married Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Perhaps Beethoven wrote it saying her “Good-bye”.
The composer wrote this piece on April 27, 1810, but never published this piece of music. In 1822 Beethoven revised it slightly and shoved it into the drawer. Beethoven died, and his bagatelle never saw the light of day.
Only 40 years after Beethoven's death, in 1867, musicologist Ludwig Nohl found this piece and published it.
Who Was Elise?
There is no conclusive answer to this question.
Therese Malfatti։ Beethoven’s student. In 1810 she was his student and the composer fell in love with her.
Juliane Katharine Elisabet Barensfeld։ Therese Malfatti's Friend. Barensfeld was Therese Malfatti's neighbor and could have been her piano student. According to the theory, Beethoven was willing “to do his beloved Therese a favour”.
Elisabeth Röckel - an opera singer: A few years before writing the composition, Beethoven met an opera singer Elisabeth Röckel, whose nickname could have been Elise. Röckel played Florestan in Beethoven’s opera “Fidelio”. They were close friends until she married Johann Nepomuk Hummel. Perhaps Beethoven wrote it saying her “Good-bye”.
