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Rh him now conducted him to the orchestra, and he was compelled to direct the opera, which was taken up anew. This time the missing D sharp was played in its proper place and produced the intended effect. At the close of the opera a perfect ovation was tendered the composer, and the people were not content until they had escorted him in triumph to his hotel.



What would we have done for Beethoven anecdotes without Ries? Here is one that this pupil of the master tells in his enjoyable style:—

"One evening I was to play a sonata of Beethoven's which one does not often hear. As he was present, and as I had not studied this sonata with him, I declared myself willing to play the others, but not this. The company turned to Beethoven, who at length said: 'Now, you will not play so badly that I cannot listen.' In the end I was obliged to play. Beethoven turned, as usual, toward me. When I made a mistake in the left hand, he tapped me on the head with his finger, which the Princess L, who leaned on the piano opposite, laughingly observed. After I had finished Beethoven said:—

Well done! You do not need to learn sonatas with me first. The finger tap only proved my attention to you.'

"Later he played, and chose the D minor sonata, Opus 31. The Princess, who expected that even Beethoven would make some mistakes, stood behind his chair while I turned the music. Soon he blundered noticeably. The Princess gave him a few not very soft strokes on the head, with the remark:—

If a pupil receives a finger stroke for a false note, then the master must be punished with a full hand for greater mistakes.'

"Every one laughed, Beethoven first. He then began