Your Imperial Highness!
Whenever I enquire how are you are, I receive only gratifying reports. –– As for my humble self, until now I have been under a ban not to leave Vienna, so that I have not been able to wait upon Y.I.H.; and I have also been prevented from enjoying the beauties of nature, an enjoyment which is always so necessary to me –– The t[heatrical] directors are so honest that notwithstanding all their promises they have already allowed my opera Fidelio to be produced on one occasion without arranging that it should be for my benefit. Moreover they would have perpetrated for a second time this delightfully honorable action if I had not laying in waiting like a former French customs official –– At last, after some rather tiresome applications it has been a range that might benefit night of the Opera Fidelio is to be on July 18th –– During the present season this benefit is no doubt rather an exception. Still, if the work has had a certain amount of success, a benefit night for the composer may often be a little festival –– The master most humbly invites his illustrious pupil to this festival in hopes –– yes, I do hope that Your Imperial Highness will graciously accept the invitation and by your presence lend lustre to the whole occasion –– It would be splendid if Y.I.H. would try to persuade the other Imperial Highnesses also to attend this performance of my opera – In this respect I myself shall observe what deference enjoins on such occasions –– thanks to Vogl’s illness I have been able to carry out my desire to give Forti the part of Pizarro; and indeed his voice is better suited to the part – But owing to this alteration we are now having rehearsals every day. These, it is true, proved to be of great advantage to the performance, but they will prevent me from being able to wait upon Y.I.H. at Baden until after my benefit night –– I ask Y.I.H to treat this letter graciously and in your great kindness to think of me with favour ––
Your Imperial Highness’s
Loyal and most obedient servant
Ludwig van Beethoven