Electoral Councillor Forlivesi is to pay to the proper authorities for a year beginning next month, 15 fl. a month and for the travelling expenses 20 rth. once and for all as soon as the journey is begun.

Attest. p. Bonn, May 22, 1778.

This pupil of Johann van Beethoven, Johanna Helena Averdonk, born in Bonn on December 11, 1760, and brought forward by her teacher at a concert in Cologne, received 120 th. “as a special grace” on July 2, and was appointed Court Singer on November 18, 1780, with a salary of 200 th. She died nine years later, August 13, 1789.

The petitions sent in to the Elector were rarely dated and were not always immediately attended to; therefore the date of a decretum is not to be taken as conclusive in regard to the date of facts mentioned in a petition. An illustration is afforded by a petition of Franz Ries. He has returned from a tour to Vienna and prays for a salary of 500 fl. “not the half of what he can earn elsewhere.” The petition is dated March 2. Two months passing without bringing him an answer, he petitions again and obtains a decree on May 2 that in addition to his salary of 28 th. 2 alb. 6, he shall receive “annoch so viel,”—again as much,—i. e., 400 fl.

1780. August. Court Organist Van den Eede prays that in consideration of his service of 54 years he be graciously and charitably given the salary vacated by the death of Court Musician Salomon. Eighteen others make the same prayer. The decision of the privy council is in these words: “To be divided between Huttenus and Esch. A decree as musical vocalist must first be given to the latter.”
1781. February 15. The name of C. G. Neefe is now met with for the first time. He petitions for appointment to the position of organist in succession to Van den Eede, obviously aged and infirm. A decree was issued “placet et expediatur on the death of Organist Van den Eede,” and a salary of 400 fl. granted.
1782. May 16. Johann van Beethoven petitions for “the three measures (Malter) of corn.”

The archives of Düsseldorf furnish little more during the time of Max Frederick save certain papers relating to the Beethoven family, which are reserved for another place.

Opera at the Elector’s Court

The search for means to form some correct idea of the character of the musical performances at the Elector’s court during this reign has been more successful than for the preceding; but much is left to be desired down to the year 1778, when the theatre was placed upon a different basis and its history is sufficiently recorded. Such notices, however, in relation to the operatic entertainments as have been found scattered, mostly in the newspapers of Bonn, in those years, are numerous enough to give an idea of their character; while the remarks upon the festivities of the court, connected with them, afford a pretty lively picture of social amusement in the highest circle. We make room for some of the most significant occurrences, in chronological order:

1764. January 3. Galuppi’s opera “Il Filosofo di Campagna,” given in the Electoral Theatre with great applause. January 8. A grand assembly at the palace in the afternoon, a magnificent supper in the grand gallery at which many spectators were present, and finally a masked ball. March 23. Second performance of “La buona Figliuola,” music by Piccini. May 13. Elector’s birthday; “Le Nozze,” music by Galuppi, and two ballets. May 20. “II Filosofo” again, the notice of which is followed by the remark that the Elector is about removing to Brühl for the summer but will visit Bonn twice a week “on the days when operas are performed.” September 21. “La Pastorella al Soglio” (composer not named, probably Latilla), and two ballets. December 16. “La Calamità di cuori,” by Galuppi, and two ballets. This was “the first performance by the Mingotti company under the direction of Rizzi and Romanini.”
1765. January 6. “Le Aventure di Rodolfo” (Piccini?), given by the same company together with a pantomime, “L’Arlequino fortunato per la Maggia.” After the play there was a grand supper at which the Pope’s nuncio was a guest, and finally a masked ball kept up till 6 o’clock in the morning.
1767. May 13. The Archbishop’s birthday. Here is the programme condensed from the long description of the festivities in the “Bonnischer Anzeiger”: 1, Early in the morning three rounds from the cannon on the city walls; 2, The court and public graciously permitted to kiss His Transparency’s hand; 3, solemn high mass with salvos of artillery; 4, Grand dinner in public, the pope’s nuncio, the foreign ministers and the nobility being the guests and the eating being accompanied by “exquisite table-music”; 5, After dinner “a numerously attended assembly”; 6, “A serenata composed especially for this most joyful day” and a comic opera in the palace theatre; 7, Supper of 130 covers; 8, Bal masqué until 5 a. m. The two dramatic pieces were “Serenata festivale, tra Bacco, Diana ed il Reno,” the authors unnamed, and “Schiava finta,” drama giocoso dal celebre don Francesco Garzia, Spagnuolo, the music probably by Piccini; “Giovanni van Beethoven” sang the part of Dorindo.
1768. May 16. “On the stage of the Court Theatre was performed with much applause a musical poem in German, specially written for the birthday of His Highness, and afterward an Italian intermezzo entitled ‘La Nobiltà delusa.’”
1769. The festivities in honor of the birthday of the Elector took place May 17th, when, according to the “Anzeiger,” “an Italian musical drama written expressly for this occasion was performed”—but the title suggests the possibility of a mistake; “II Riso d’Apolline,” with music by Betz, had been heard in 1701.
1771. A single discovery only for this year has rewarded search, that of a text-book, one of particular interest: “Silvain,” comédie en une acte, mélée d’ariettes, représentée, etc. Text by Marmontel, music by Grétry. Dolmon père, Mons. Louis van Beethoven, Maître de Chapelle; Dolmon, fils ainé, Jean van Beethoven, etc.
1772. February 27. “Le Donne sempre Donne,” music by Andreas Lucchesi. In March, on occasion of the opening of the Estates, “La Contadine in Corte,” music by Sacchini. The pieces given on the birthday this year were “Il Natal di Giove,” music by Lucchesi, and “La buona Figliuola,” music by Piccini. On the 17th the latter was repeated on the arrival of the French ambassador.
1773. May 30. The Elector’s birthday; “L’Inganno scoperto, overo il Conte Caramella,” music by Lucchesi, in which Ludovico van Beethoven sang the part of Brunoro, contadino e tamburino.

Versatility of the Court Musicians