2nd piano concerto (Beethoven)

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The Piano Concerto No. 2, B flat major , Op. 19 is an early piano concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven . On the one hand, Beethoven is still based on the early models of the Viennese Classic , on the other hand, his later handwriting can be recognized here.

Emergence

The work was written between 1788 and 1801 and was actually Beethoven's first piano concerto, as it was written before the first piano concerto . Beethoven wrote both works initially for his own use. a. presented these works to a broader public as a pianist and composer. This concert is also close to its predecessor Mozart , without denying Beethoven's own style.

To the music

1st movement: Allegro con brio

The orchestra introduces the first movement with a main theme consisting of two opposing motifs. The first is rhythmically distinctive and energetic in Forte, the second motif is of a more cantable nature and spreads over a wide area. The transition to the second theme now takes place with a surprising jolt from C to D flat, which is also characteristic of the later Beethoven. This theme is now also in D flat major and is of a singing nature, with an ornate melody. This theme creates a rather lyrical trait in the whole movement, which is also reflected in the design of the piano part, which is less virtuoso than in the 1st piano concerto . The frequent use of chromatics in the whole movement is often reminiscent of Mozart .

2nd movement: Adagio

The Adagio presents itself as a dreamy set of variations. The expressiveness of the musical thoughts hardly comes close to the middle movement of the 1st piano concerto, but the movement still contains a wealth of poetic images. The variations are richly decorated and figured by the solo piano.

3rd movement: Rondo, allegro molto

The solo piano introduces the main theme of the final rondo. What is noticeable here is the emphasis on the second part of the measure, which results in a volatile and researchy character. In the middle section, the main theme is effectively shifted to minor, which retains the erratic style of the theme.

effect

The piano concerto was premiered on March 29, 1795 in Vienna with Beethoven as the soloist. Beethoven himself did not count this concerto among his best works and reworked it in 1794/95, 1798 and 1801. The work found its final form when it went to press in 1801, together with the 1st piano concerto . Beethoven nevertheless added a cadenza for Archduke Rudolph in 1809 .

Today the work is somewhat less popular than Beethoven's other piano concertos in terms of popularity and frequency of performance. The 1st piano concerto, which together with the 2nd piano concerto represents Beethoven's early concertos, is often viewed more highly and performed more often. Nevertheless, due to its undisputed qualities, the work is still represented in concert halls today.

See also

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