MONDAY, October 12, 2020 – 7:57 AM

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, age 36

• 0:01 I. Allegro ma non troppo (D major)
• 21: 44 II. Larghetto (G major)
• 30:21 III. Rondo. Allegro (D major)

Instrumentation…

• solo violin
• flute, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons
• two horns, two trumpets
• timpani
• strings.

This is one of a very few compositions by Beethoven that did not immediately catch on…

Its 1st performance by Franz Clement was a failure. Then in 1844 it was performed by the then 12-year-old violinist Joseph Joachim with the orchestra of the London Philharmonic Society conducted by Felix Mendelssohn. Since then it has become one of the best-known violin concertos. So let’s say it’s been popular for around 176 years.