My Beloved M[ilder]!
I wanted to call you today, but this was not possible. You yourself will know how much has to be seen to fortissimo – All that I want to say is that Maelzel was never commissioned to ask you to sing. The matter was discussed and you were the first person I thought of as likely to lend lustre to my concert. I would even have agreed to your singing an aria by some other composer. But those who are arranging this concert for my benefit have been weak enough to make the condition that the aria must certainly be one composed by me. I had no time, however, to write a new one; and the aria from my opera, on account of its setting alone, is not suitable for so large a hall as the Redoutensaal – That is the position, my dear, my beloved M[ilder]. M[aelzel] was never given any instructions whatsoever. As a matter of fact I myself did not yet know what I should and could do, seeing that I had to defer to the judgment of those who were arranging my concert – If I had had at my disposal a new aria, then I would have thrown myself at your feet in the hope that you would grant my request – And in any case I trust that you will accept my most fervent thanks for being so kindly disposed to me. I hope that my circumstances will soon improve (for no doubt you are aware that I have lost almost everything) and then my first task will be to write an opera for our one and only Milder and to exert every effort to produce something worthy of her –
With kindest regards, your friend
Beethoven
(I am sure you will not disdain to accept some tickets for my concerts)