Paradise Lost - Spirit

Beethoven's first public appearances in Vienna took place even before Haydn returned - on March 29 and 30, 1795 in the court theater (during Lent, concerts were given instead of performances in theater halls). Pre-Easter concerts were often charitable and attracted a huge number of listeners; the hall was always full and even crowded. Founded by Florian Leopold Gassman, the Musicians Widows and Orphans Aid Society flourished under the direction of Antonio Salieri, Gassman's pet. Salieri had no personal benefit from this. He did not always always include his own works in the concert program.