April 7, 1805 –
Beethoven conducted the premiere of his Eroica Symphony No. 3 in E flat major on this date.
Beethoven uses the symphony to convey popular notions about heroism and revolution, which were prevalent throughout Europe at the time.
He was full of enthusiasm and respect for the French Revolution’s ideals, and especially (at first) Napoleon Bonaparte. Beethoven, like a teenage groupie, scrawled Napoleon’s name all over the dedication page of the symphony.
But then Napoleon went on a world tour and started conquering random European countries. When he became a truly evil bastard, finally declared himself Emperor of the French in 1804, Beethoven flew into a rage. He ripped through the paper as he scratched out Napoleon’s name with a knife.
And so it goes
The Haus of Dcaligari 