The virtuoso 24 variations on a theme by the Mainz court Kapellmeister Vincenzo Righini were the first of Beethoven’s works to be published by Schott in 1791 (plate number 145). The theme comes from the collection ‘XII Ariette Italiane’ for voice and piano (plate number 92), published by Schott in 1788. The collaboration with Beethoven did not continue until around 35 years later with the operas 121b to 128 and 131 (including the Missa solemnis and the 9th Symphony). Beethoven’s last words, acco...