35. PREMIERE OF THE VIOLIN CONCERTO (December 23, 1806)

 
FIRST PAGE FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF THE CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA, D MAJOR, opus 61 Beethoven, who had entrusted the first performance of the Violin Concerto to the violinist Clement, wrote at the beginning of the manuscript "Concerto par Clemenza pour Clement, primo Violino e Direttore al Theatro a Vienna, dal L. v. Bthn. 1806." The orchestral parts were published in 1808 by the Bureau d'Arts et d'Industrie in Vienna and in Pesth yet the score was not published before 1861 by C. F. Peters in Leipzig and Berlin. In 1807 Beethoven transcribed his work for "piano and orchestra." The original version of the Violin Concerto was dedicated to his friend Stephan von Breuning and the transcription for piano and orchestra to Julie von Breuning. ( National Library, Vienna)
 
FRANZ JOSEF CLEMENT (1780-1842) Engraving by H. Hessell ( 1789) Born in Vienna, Clement like Mozart was a prodigy both as a violinist and composer. Beethoven had him perform his only Violin Concerto on December 23, 1806. Unhappily the artist later became a drunkard after he had been a conductor in Vienna and Prague. ( National Library, Vienna)
 
PAGE FROM AN ALBUM OF FRANZ CLEMENT WITH AUTOGRAPH OF BEETHOVEN The entry says: "Dear Clement, continue on the road which till now you have so magnificently travelled. Nature and art compete in their endeavor to make you one of the greatest artists. Follow both and you need not fear to achieve the greatest aim an artist can achieve in this world. Be happy, dear boy, and come back soon so I can listen again to your magnificent playing. Your friend, L. v. Beethoven, Vienna, 1794." Beethoven was twenty-four, Clement only fourteen. ( National Library, Vienna)
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THE CORIOLAN OVERTURE FIRST PAGE FROM THE AUTOGRAPH OF THE "CORIOLAN" OVERTURE, opus 62 At the beginning of the manuscript Beethoven entry: "Ouverture (zum Trauerspiel Coriolan) composta de L. v. Beethoven 1807." The words in parentheses were later erased by him. The Overture was performed in one of the so-called "amateur" concerts in Vienna, December, 1807. (Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
 
"CORIOLAN" OVERTURIE, opus 62 Dedicatory page to H. J. von Collin Written in 1807, the work was published in 1808 by the Bureau d'Arts et d'Industrie in Vienna. ( Society of Friends of Music, Vienna)
 
HEINRICH JOSEPH VON COLLIN (1772-1811) Engraving by J. F. Bolt after J. Lange He had originally furnished two librettos, Macbeth and Bradamante, the composition of which Beethoven refused. He was finally successful with "Coriolan" in that the composer decided to write his famous Overture for it. (Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
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PRINCE RASUMOFFSKY, ANOTHER PATRON ANDRé CYRILLOWITSCH, PRINCE RASUMOFIFSKY (1752-1836) Miniature on ivory The Prince had arrived in Vienna 1790 and was the ambassador of the Czar at the Court of Vienna, a position which he held from 1792 till 1809 with but a short interruption. He was responsible for the Austrian-Russian treaty against Napoleon in 1812. His marvelous palace was the center of the high aristocracy. A musician himself and an enthusiastic admirer of Beethoven's work, he founded in 1808 a string quartet in which he himself was a second violinist and in which he employed the famous Schuppanzigh whom he had enticed away from Prince Lichnowsky. This ensemble was at Beethoven's disposal for the performance of his chamber music. During the time of the Congress of Vienna, Rasumoffsky gave feasts of unheard-of luxury. (Former Collection A., Moscow)
 
THE RASUMOFFSKY PALACE IN VIENNA Water color by E. Gurk In this fabulous palace the Prince had collected art works of enormous value. His receptions exceeded in splendor everything the Viennese aristocracy had heretofore experienced, particularly in 1814 while the Congress was in session. The palace was destroyed by fire during the night of December 30, 1814. ( Historical Museum of the City of Vienna)
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AUTOGRAPH OF THE STRING QUARTET, C MAJOR, opus 59, No. 3 At the head of the manuscript Beethoven entry: "Quartetto terzo da Luigi van Beethoven." The three quartets opus 59 dedicated to Prince Rasumoffsky were composed 1805-06 but published in 1808 by the Bureau d'Arts et d'Industrie, Vienna. (Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
 
COVER OF THE AUTOGRAPH OF STRING QUARTET, opus 59, No. 3 This precious manuscript of one of the three string quartets dedicated to Prince Rasumoffsky became part of the collection of the Beethovenhaus in Bonn in 1904. It is bound in red velvet with title and corners in gold-plated metal, enameled and with multi-colored pearls (polychromes). (Beethovenhaus, Bonn)
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