Background
Therese Malfatti was the daughter of the Viennese merchant Jacob Friedrich Malfatti (1769–1829) and a cousin of the famous and wealthy physician, Johann Baptist Malfatti von Monteregio (1775–1859).
Therese Malfatti was the daughter of the Viennese merchant Jacob Friedrich Malfatti (1769–1829) and a cousin of the famous and wealthy physician, Johann Baptist Malfatti von Monteregio (1775–1859).
She is best known as one of the supposed dedicatees of Beethoven"s famous bagatelle, Für Elise, WoO 59. Born in Vienna, Austria on 1 January 1792. Her father, who from 1804 on owned an estate in Walkersdorf am Kamp (Grafenegg), on 2 April 1806 was ennobled and given the title "Edler von Rohrenbach zu Dezza".
In April or May 1810 Beethoven wrote to Therese a letter which ended
Now fare you well, respected Therese.
I wish you all the good and beautiful things of this life. Bear me in memory—no one can wish you a brighter, happier life than I—even should it be that you care not at all for
Your devoted servant and friend
Beethoven.".
This was not exactly a love-letter, and it is not certain that Beethoven ever proposed marriage to Therese Malfatti, though authorities such as Hugo Riemann believed that he did. Further, the bagatelle "Für Elise" was found among her personal papers.
