Dallas (AP) – A letter from composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was auctioned in the United States for $ 275,000.
Auction house Heritage Auctions announced Friday that it ia one of the
highest prices achieved in recent years for a piece of writing by the Bonn-born
composer. In the pre-auction phase, a price of $ 60,000 was expected.
“It was a complete surprise because it goes beyond
what his letters normally carry,” said Sandra Palomino, head of Rare Manuscripts
at Heritage Auctions. “Beethoven rarely hits the market, but this has excited
people because he talks to us about his music.”
In the handwritten letter on one page, Beethoven asks
a Mr. von Baumann to return the scores for a piano trio and promises to return
them along with a violin sonata within a few days. According to the auction
house, the document was a little crumpled and yellowed, but overall in good
condition.
According to Heritage Auctions, the new
owner of the letter is a pianist who initially wanted to remain anonymous and
who two years ago bought a lock of Beethoven’s hair.
The letter means a lot to her. “Beethoven
was my refuge in my childhood,” the auction house said, citing the successful
bidder. She is planning to donate the document to the New York music college
where she studied.
From Associated Press
