Day 204: Violin Concerto + Romances for Violin and Orchestra

BeethovenCD9Beethoven’s violin concertos appear to be just as dynamic and melodic as his piano concertos.

In fact, there’s a tremendous melody in Movement I (“Allegro non troppo”) of Violin Concerto in D Op. 61.

At about 5:40 or so into Movement I there’s a gentle, soft melody line. It’s repeated throughout the movement and comes back forcefully at about the 8:45 mark. That’s when the melody is so striking that it sounds contemporary. Like if John Williams or Howard Shore wrote it for a blockbuster movie. And then again at the 15:00 mark. It’s a very beautiful movement.

I love a good melody. And that’s likely why nothing from Haydn stuck with me. I didn’t grasp a single melody from Haydn’s music.

That’s not to say Haydn’s music was bad, or that I’m a dolt. It just means I notice more melody in Bethoven’s music.

Here’s are the players on today’s CD:

Christian Tetzlaff violin
Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
David Zinman conductor

Christian Tetzlaff is superb. Very expressive. And swift of fingers.

According to its entry on Wikipedia:

Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, was written in 1806. The work was premiered on 23 December 1806 in the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. Beethoven wrote the concerto for his colleague Franz Clement, a leading violinist of the day, who had earlier given him helpful advice on his opera Fidelio. The occasion was a benefit concert for Clement. However, the first printed edition (1808) was dedicated to Beethoven’s friend Franz Clement.

It is believed that Beethoven finished the solo part so late that Clement had to sight-read part of his performance. Perhaps to express his annoyance, or to show what he could do when he had time to prepare, Clement is said to have interrupted the concerto between the first and second movements with a solo composition of his own, played on one string of the violin held upside down; however, other sources claim that he did play such a piece but only at the end of the program.

If you think that reads the same as Piano Concerto in D Op. 61, you’re right. It’s the same entry. Apparently, both pieces – piano and violin – were written at the same time. I wouldn’t stake my life on that. But that’s the impression I got.

Beethoven was 36 when this piece was composed and premiered.

The “Romances” part of this morning’s CD consist of:

Romance No. 1 in G Op. 40: Adagio – Allegro con brio

Romance No. 2 in F Op. 50 Adagio cantabile

According to its entry on Wikipedia:

The Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G major, Op. 40 is a piece for violin and orchestra by Ludwig van Beethoven, one of two such compositions, the other being Romance No. 2 in F major, Op. 50. It was written in 1802, four years after the second romance, and was published 1803, two years before the publication of the second. Thus, this romance was designated as Beethoven’s first.

So, the first was written in 1802. The second was written in 1798. But because it was published before the second, it’s called his first. Interesting, if not a little confusing.

Both romances do little for me. They’re pleasant enough. Kind of pretty. But not deep or dynamic enough for me.

Beethoven was 32 when he wrote Romance 1 and 28 when he wrote Romance 2.

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