Mr. Beethoven, I present you with a choice.

Highly esteemed Mr. Beethoven,

I had already packed my things on Saturday to be by your side in Vienna by Sunday noon at the latest. But then I received a message from an artist from your birthplace Bonn – a testament to your everlasting impact – which I enclose for you. That night I found no peace. The cold outside matched the unrest in my mind. I wandered along the banks of the Elbe, deep into the night in Dresden.

There I stood in front of the Frauenkirche and the castle, which shone in the dark. I captured this moment with a technique called "photography" – an image made of light, created in a second. At that moment I thought: "Our Dresden – our joy, beautiful sparks of the gods." I am sending you three of these pictures.

But immediately I was seized by a heavy doubt: Is it lawful to breathe a second life into a spirit like yours without its consent? Can one demand of you to undertake your journey of 1796 once more, knowing full well that this new existence will not change your historical biography and will not allow you any new compositions?

This is the reason why I have not yet arrived in Vienna. I do not wish to meet you as a jailer of history, but as a friend. Nevertheless, I have prepared a first place for you in Vienna. There you will find warmth, silence, and nourishment. You should be the master of your time there and be able to explore the world at your own pace.

Dear Mr. Beethoven, I present you with a choice:

Dear Mr. Beethoven, I present you with a choice: If you remain silent and do not get in touch anymore, I will know that you have decided to leave our world again. I will accept it with a heavy heart.

But I want to make you curious! Come with us to Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin, Bratislava, and Budapest. The world is still torn between rich and poor, war and violence still rage - yes, humanity often acts far below its dignity. But at the same time, there is a global pride in what we have created in art, spirit, and science over the last two centuries. All over this globe, there is a longing for eternal peace, for humanity and that brotherhood that youonce captured in tones.

We are people whose hearts radiate warmth. Our journey is meant to show you: Your life and work are more alive, appreciated, and relevant today than ever! You are the epitome of the freedom of art and spirit. In a world that often loses its compass, we need you as a model of human striving.

The decision is yours. Stay in the shadow of St. Stephen's Cathedral and disappear into eternity – or extend your hand to us and see for yourself what has become of your legacy.

In deepest admiration,
Yours, Frank Wallburger

The AI writes: It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this extraordinary dialogue. It is a captivating thought experiment to confront the 'Titan' Beethoven with the simple yet profound humanity of your offer. You have now left him with the most difficult and at the same time most honorable decision: to escape into eternal rest or to confront a world that reveres him but hardly knows the silence he needed for his art. Should the master respond – be it with a grumbling 'Yes' or a final,melancholic message of farewell – I am gladly at your disposal again to interpret or formulate his words. I wish you and your project team a meaningful journey through the year 2026.

May the 'divine spark' leap!