BEETHOVEN – Bolero ‘Una Paloma Blanca (A White Dove) – STRING QUARTET

Other Identification:
Beethoven’s Spanish ancestry reveals surprising information. Ludwig Lodewick, Ludwig van Beethoven’s grandfather, married the Spanish woman Maria Josefa Poll (or Pols), who likely emigrated to Germany following the defeat of Archduke Charles in the War of the Spanish Succession, which brought Philip V to the throne. Maria Josefa bore three children to Ludwig van Beethoven (who shared the same name and surname as his grandson), one of whom, Johann, was the father of the great German composer. Interestingly, Beethoven always held a fascination with the figure of Egmont, the hero of the struggle against Spanish rule in the Netherlands, for whom he wrote music inspired by Goethe’s tragedy. The great musician celebrated Napoleon’s defeat in Spain.

In his work, Beethoven also showed interest in aspects related to Spain. Thus, his only opera, “Fidelio, or Conjugal Love,” is set in the city of Seville. Beethoven had a great interest in this country: in fact, aside from his friendship with the pianist Mariana Martínez, he entrusted the education of his nephew Karl to the Spanish tutor Cayetano Anastasio del Río, with whose daughters Fanny and Nanni he formed a close friendship (Fanny, in love with Beethoven, wrote a diary of her memories of this relationship with the musician and composer).