Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Jiri Waldhans/Alberto Zedda, Prague Symphony Orchestra Brno Philharmonic Orchestra :: The Beethoven Mysteries

The piano concertos of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 ? 1827) are among the best known works in the classical repertoire. The violin concerto in D major Op 61, written in 1806 is also now a well-loved favourite. However, Beethoven?s own transcription for the piano, of this concerto has been sadly neglected. Why should that be? It was better received than the original and requires much more of the soloist. Beethoven transcribed a number of his works and he wasn?t alone. JS Bach, Vivaldi and Telemann all re-scored their works.Beethoven wrote the violin concerto for a friend, Franz Clement. The first performance was on 23rd December 1806 and was received frostily, partly because Franz had to sight-read the solo part. It arrived just moments before the performance. The transcription for piano was written a year after the original but published earlier in 1808. It?s likely that the greater number of talented keyboard players than violinists made the early publication of the piano transcription a more attractive proposition. It was immediately accepted by the keyboard virtuosi of the time and was championed by pianist and composer Muzio Clementi. The original composition for violin soloist was called "A Symphony for Violin and Orchestra", a title justified perhaps in the light of the comparative lack of virtuosity required by the solo part. The transcription for piano on the other hand, is much more demanding.