Beethoven’s Immortal Beloved Identified 

Rita Steblin was a lovely person, a passionate researcher, and a wealth of information. Her work has inspired countless musicians and music lovers. She is sorely missed.

Thank you for this most interesting report.👍👍👍 Indeed, the tragical love of one of the most fascinating composers of the world should not be forgotten.😉

I’m so greatful for this! Beethoven is my favorite composer and Immortal Beloved is my favorite movie! I know the script by heart from watching it time and again!🥰❤️

Ultimately, the only ones who truly know are Ludwig van Beethoven himself, the woman who is his immortal beloved, perhaps those whom either told, and ultimately God. I felt it is none of our business to know who she is and Beethoven would probably tell us to focus on our own troubles, as he is now, I hope, in Paradise with the Lord and is at peace now.

No kidding. I just watched Immortal Beloved last night and assumed all of it was made up just to give it the Citizen Kane plot. I thought it was just pure fiction wrapped around some real historical touchstones like Amadeus. So I am really surprised to find out this was much more rooted in some reality.

This was very well done. So intriguing. You're a great interviewer and more importantly, a listener. You let Ms. Steblin speak her thoughts. She was lovely to listen to as well. Maybe that's why Beethoven had such a temper... he wanted something he could never have. And his hearing loss, I'm sure.

There are many contenders for the honor. I don't personally agree with Steblin. She focused SOLELY on Josephine, without considering anyone else. I would suggest reading the books of Maynard Solomon and Dr. Susan Lund: they both discuss why Josephine couldn't possibly have been the IB. They both believe strongly that it was Antonie Brentano, and they give their reasons why. They both did exhaustive research to prove their premise. There are many other historians who believe this as well. I personally find their arguments very compelling.

Thank you. ♥️

Thank you so much for having this woman who’s a genius and such a pleasure to listen too as well. my son brought this video to my attention because he knew how fascinating I would find it! I introduced all of my children to classical music in the womb (via all the Baby Eisenstein videos back in the late 1990’s and take great pleasure in the fact that all three have continued into adulthood to sponsor the arts, as do I of course). I’ve got to find this book she mentions in the beginning…. I hope someone does the DNA testing! I didn’t realize they sell gravesites?? I mean gravesites that have people in them? Is this a common practice? I’ve never heard of this in America.

I always assumed it was his muse and that he felt that he hadn’t been given any inspiration recently

well done

It seems most probable that Beethoven’s letters to his immortal beloved were ones of fiction and that he wrote them for posterity. He knew his fame would continue long after his death and although he had failed in love, nevertheless he certainly could have reasoned that if he was counted as a great composer without a great love of his life, it could discolour the greatness of his music and lessen the pleasure, people received from it. Hence this could very well have been the reason why he invented the story of his immortal beloved. But also the invention itself could have contributed to his life,in way, like a great actor, when playing a role and acquires the characteristics of the character when playing the part. Maybe this enhanced his life by imagining this perfect love. Without these letters we would perhaps believe him to be one without the capacity to love, or love in way which he expresses so ardently in the letters. Hence the reason for the letters. Maybe he is trying to convince us from the grave.

Anyone else here for school?

Purely speculation but I always thought it was his brother’s wife and why he carried so much anger… or angst.

A special place for "suffering musical " type heroes such as this.

Uuumm yummy🤗🤗what does the letter say...give up all the dish.

Who else is here for there school project?

How can an "ST" look like an "A" ?

it does sound a little like she draws a conclusion and works backwards from that, like a cryptozoologist trying to justify Bigfoot, but the evidence is compelling nonetheless.

The movie Immortal Beloved was full of fakes! Did the maestro had a child or not?

I disagree with it. Just listen to the Moonlight Sonata and you will feel who was the one he loved the most!!!