Beethoven’s Piano sonata no 23...

Beethoven’s Piano sonata no 23 “Appassionata”
original manuscript
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During Vienna’s occupation by Napoleon’s forces Beethoven spent time at Prince Lichnowsky’s summer house, as well as did some of the French soldiers. The Austrian aristocracy were on friendly terms with the conqueror, so they all dined in the same table. Soon the conversation turned to Beethoven, and when it came to the soldiers’ knowledge that he was a gifted pianist and composer, he was asked to play for them. He refused.
The disappointment over Napoleon’s sudden declaration of becoming an emperor was probably still weighing on him, and even though the prince himself tried to talk him into it, they started to quarrel and Beethoven stormed out of the palace in the middle of the night, carrying this manuscript under his arm.
It started to rain, and as he walked in fury all the way back to Vienna, the pages got wet. We can still see the stains left by the raindrops.