USING the woman’s changing room, Clara and Helga changed into the formal wear of the period that Calpurnia, Fred and the Beatles left there. Jacqueline was also there getting ready. Beethoven was in his own dressing room changing into his formal wear for when he was to conduct the orchestra. The Beatles were still performing when Beethoven went onstage. In fact, due to his deafness he was unaware of the performance those four were putting on because he couldn’t hear them.
++++++
In the meantime, Clara and Helga had trouble getting into the balcony box because the usher told them that that part was reserved for friends and family only. Helga tried to convince him that she was family but the usher refused to buy it. Apparently, he mistook Calpurnia for Helga and treated the real item like an imposter.
Finally, Calpurnia came out and said “Let them in.”
“Are you sure?” asked the usher.
“She’s sure,” said Helga, “since I am the real Helga and she’s not.”
“What?” exclaimed the usher.
“It’s a long story.” exclaimed Helga, “I am miffed about it too. But apparently this woman looks just like me and she was in as much of a shock about it as I was for when she saw me, she thought she was pregnant and passed out.”
Calpurnia felt her stomach and said “You didn’t have to remind me of that.”
“In fact,” Helga went onto say as she was indicating to Clara, “me, my brother Ludwig and my daughter were all kidnapped by Baron Von Tannenhausen and my look-alike’s companion rescued us and got us here just in time. I owe a debt of gratitude to them.”
“Thank you.” said Clara.
++++++
Meanwhile on the stage below:
Will you still need me, will you still feed,
When I’m sixty-four.
Then, as the orchestra finished the song, Paul noticed Beethoven and said “And now ladies and gentlemen, we hoped you enjoyed the show because the man of the hour is here. Here he is, from the auspices of Bonn, let’s give up for the one and the only Ludwig Von Beethoven.”
The introduction brought about a thunderous applause. It was unfortunate that the maestro couldn’t hear. One of the Beatles had to touch him in order for him to turn around and have him acknowledge it. Once done, the Beatles along with Fred went someplace to change into something formal.
++++++
On the balcony, Calpurnia broke out her binoculars when Clara asked “Calpurnia, what are you doing?”
“Oh, just trying to get a close-up look at Beethoven.” said Calpurnia.
“Well, we don’t use binoculars here.” said Clara, “We use these.” She showed her two conjoined eye pieces on a stem. “They’re opera glasses.” she said, “You hold them like this.” She showed her how by holding the eye pieces in front of her eyes. Calpurnia copied and Clara said “You got it.”
“Yes I do.” said Calpurnia panning the opera house with a smile on her face.
Fixing her gaze on the podium, she saw Beethoven tap the stand with the baton and then raising it with both arms outstretched, he then brought them down and a sound of a violin quartet started to play getting louder and louder until the rest of the orchestra joined in. Then, the song quieted down to the string quartet again which began another buildup until once again the orchestra joined in. And through all of this, Beethoven was performing like an artist conducting the orchestra with such grace yet with such stamina that this time traveler has never seen in her life or any time period.
++++++
The Beatles paused for a minute as they could hear the music being performed out in the theatre.
“It really sounds like Beethoven.” commented Paul.
“It is Beethoven.” said Fred, “It’s his ninth symphony.”
“You know,” said John, “it does sound like a little Beethoven. I always liked Beethoven. Especially his poems.”
Ringo finally showed off himself in his formal wear asking “How do I look?”
“Groovy.” said Paul, “Hey look at me.” and he showed off his formal wear.
“We’d better get up there.” said George, “The last one there has to clean up the sunflower seeds.”
In unison, the Beatles and Fred headed out to the balcony. On their way there, they were stopped by an usher.
“Sorry sir.” he said, “Family and invited guests only.”
“I’ll vouch for them.”
Fred and the Beatles looked up. It was Calpurnia.
“I’ve got some seats saved for you.” she said. To the usher she said “Let them in.”
“Yes, ma’am.” he said.
Once inside, Ringo said “I know this song. It’s Beethoven’s 9th Symphony second movement.”
“Ssh..quiet!” said John, “I love this kind of song. You don’t have to dance to it.”
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The third movement started off as a melodic song. Like a lullaby. A row of string quartets and flutes were performing this movement. It was like walking through a long hallway or sailing on calm waters. Calpurnia never heard such quiet music in her life. For the first time since she lost her husband, she began to feel peace in her heart. Clara began to notice this. Somehow, the accidental trip to this year didn’t turn out to be bad after all. Helga and her daughter were very fortunate to have brother to support them after she lost her husband, especially one who could compose such music not heard by man before and never would be composed again by anyone else. And then, the music grew louder to the sound of thunder and then dropped to a whisper. The eight in the balcony as well as the audience were being held speechless by this composition.
After the movement was finished, Helga whispered “Now this is my daughter’s performance.”
“The fourth movement.” said Clara, “Ode to Joy!”
Helga was startled at this. “How did you know?” she asked.
Clara laughed. “I’ve got my resources.” she said.
The movement started. It began with a thunderous sound of horns and trumpets accompanied by heavy drums. And then, Calpurnia began to recognize the tune that was being perform. That was the same tune that Jacqueline was playing when she went into the next room during lunch and played the piano. And it was the same tune she was singing.
But, as the opening of the movement began to play again, Clara nudge Calpurnia saying “You’d better turn off your translator.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s my opinion that we should hear the singing in their language.”
Calpurnia paused for a minute. And then, she turned off her translator. The singing began. Among the throng of singers was Jacqueline.
The singing opened with the baritone singing out
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne,
sondern lasst uns angenehmere
anstimmen, und freundenvollere
And then he sang this song being joined in by a quartet and chorus.
Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder,
was die Mode streng geteilt:
alle Menschen werden Brüder,
wo dein snafter Flügel weilt.Wem der grosse Wurf gelungen,
eines Freundes Freund zu sein,
wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
weinend sich aus diesem Bund!Freude trinken alle Wesen
an den Brüsten der Natur,
alle Guten, alle Bösen
folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
und der Cherub steht vor Gott.
Through this, the two time travelers looked towards Helga who had tears in her eyes and were streaming down her face. There she was, her daughter down there singing her heart out with such a beautiful voice. It was a pity that her brother could not hear it.
And then the tenor had a solo that was to be eventually joined by the chorus.
Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen!
The rest of the singing belong to the chorus.
Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder,
was die Mode streng geteilt:
alle Menschen werden Brüder,
wo dein snafter Flügel weilt.Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt
muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such ihn überm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muss er wohnen.Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such ihn überm Sternenzelt!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt
muss ein lieber Vater wohnen!Freude, Tochter aus Elysium,
deine Zauber binden wieder,
was die Mode streng geteilt!
Alle Menschen werden Brüder,
wo dein sanfter Flügel Weilt.Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, überm Sternenzelt
muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.Freude, schöner Götterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Freude, schöner Götterfunken!
When the performance was done there was a thunderous applause. Beethoven couldn’t hear it so his niece broke ranks and turned her uncle around to face the crowd. Using their opera glasses, Clara and Calpurnia noticed that Beethoven too had tears in his eyes as he bowed to the crowd. Jacqueline too had tears in her eyes as she applauded her uncle’s performance. And then, someone brought a bouquet of flowers and gave it to Jacqueline. In the balcony, Helga put her hand to her mouth as if to stifle a laugh. Her daughter had a secret admirer. Jacqueline bowed to the crowd and the sender of the flowers.
After the performance, Beethoven and his niece rejoined the rest as mother and daughter embraced.
“You were so wonderful.” said Helga.
“Thank you mother.” said Jacqueline.
Turning to Clara, Helga said “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You don’t have too.” said Clara, “The bottom line is that you, you’re brother and your daughter are all safe now and your daughter had something to prove to the world tonight.”
“Why, thank you.” said Jacqueline.
“You’re welcome.” said Clara.
And then, Fred came over after a talk with Beethoven and said “I’ve got rehired.”
“You did?” asked Helga.
“Yes.” said Fred, “It was a reward for stalling the audience while he was on his way here.”
“Oh Fred.” said Calpurnia, “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, miss.” said Fred.
Noticing that the Beatles had changed back into their own clothes, Clara tapped Calpurnia on the shoulder saying “It’s time for us to go.”
“Alright.” said Calpurnia.
Then, Clara turned to the rest saying “Listen, we have to go but it was educational.”
“Will we ever see you again?” asked Helga.
Realizing the possibility that Helga might one day visit America, she said “Probably.” Turning to Jacqueline and said “Take care of that voice.”
“I will.” said Jacqueline, “And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
She embraced Clara. Afterwards, she, Calpurnia and the Beatles left the lobby and headed out to the limousine.
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The walk back to Beethoven’s house was a long one. But when they reached where the limousine, it wasn’t there.
“Our car.” said John, “Where is it?”
And then it appeared.
“It was here all the time.” said Clara who produced the remote and used it. “Now get in the back.”
The four stalled and then they got in. After disconnecting the recharge generator, Clara and Calpurnia got in the front.
“Where are we going now?” asked John.
Both Clara and Calpurnia pulled out their sleep inducers and as Clara asked “Ready?”
Calpurnia nodded in agreement. They both turned around and used them on the Beatles who went out like a light.
Once done, Clara said “Time to go.”
She turned on the ignition, set the time circuits for this morning, lifted the car off the ground and flew into the time barrier.