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There are not many controversial figures in Beethoven’s life comparable to Anton Schindler. Probably Johanna van Beethoven, wife of his brother Karl, with whom Beethoven had legal and emotional battles over the custody of his nephew. Schindler forged history, destroyed evidence and based a career on the short relationship he had with Beethoven.

Who was Anton Schindler?

Anton Felix Schindler was born in 1795 in Meedel (Moravia) and died in 1864 in Bockenheim (today part of Frankfurt). He moved to Vienna in 1813 to study law and philosophy at the University of Vienna. He played violin from childhood, he was competent, but not exceptional at it.

In 1822 he had given up his law career and became first violinist at the Theater in der Josefstadt, later from 1825 at the Theater am Kärntnertor.

After the death of Beethoven he had left Vienna for Budapest, where he was a music teacher, but later he also lived in Münster and Aachen. He worked there as a musical director.

It was in Münster where in 1840 he published his infamous Beethoven biography, Beethoven, as I knew him

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Anton Schindler

Associate, secretary, and early biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven

Anton Felix Schindler (13 June 1795 – 16 January 1864) was an Austrian law clerk and associate, secretary, and early biographer of Ludwig van Beethoven.^[1]^[2]

Life

Schindler was born on 13 June 1795 in Medlov. He moved to Vienna in 1813 to study law, and from 1817 to 1822 was a clerk in a law office there. He was a competent, though not exceptional violinist, and played in various musical ensembles, first meeting Beethoven in 1814. He gave up his law career, becoming in 1822 first violinist at the Theater in der Josefstadt, and from 1825 first violinist at the Theater am Kärntnertor. His acquaintance with Beethoven continued, and from 1822, he lived in the composer's house, as his unpaid secretary.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Beethoven broke with Schindler in March 1825, and Karl Holz, a young violinist in the Schuppanzigh Quartet and friend of Beethoven, was engaged as the composer's secretary; though Schindler and Beethoven reconciled in August 182

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Anton Schindler (1795-1864): Beethoven's first biographer

All Beethoven scholars have reason to be grateful to Schindler - and angry with him - in equal measure.

Schindler was a violinist who introduced himself into Beethoven's circle in about 1822. He made himself indispensable to Beethoven, who was by now totally deaf.

He helped him in his dealings with his friends as well as publishers, offering advice and taking administrative chores off Beethoven's shoulders.

But he was over-protective of Beethoven, keeping his friends away and erecting a metaphorical wall around him.

At first Beethoven was grateful but became tired of his obsequiousness.

He dismissed Schindler after the concert which premiered the Ninth Symphony in May 1824, accusing him of withholding receipts from him. But Schindler was back in favour two years later and remained with Beethoven until his death.

Schindler was determined to secure Beethoven's reputation for future generations as a God-like figure. He examined all Beethoven's Conversation Books in minute detail, destroying any that cast Beethove