This course should appeal to anyone interested in appreciating how this ‘King of Concertos’ came to fruition. In addition to exploring the work’s genesis, it will consider the progress of public reception over more than two centuries. The concerto will also be compared and contrasted with other significant contemporary violin concertos by lesser-known composers such as Viotti, Kreutzer and Rode. We will, of course, hear many extracts from a century of recording by the greatest violinists. As one of the most recorded of all classical works, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto has inspired scores of highly individualistic cadenzas, some of which will be discussed both on their own terms and how well they ‘sit’ within the concerto itself.
Course aim
To explore in some depth the music of this great Classical masterpiece, and to examine the fascinating historical background that led to its creation as one of the most loved of all musical compositions
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Appreciate the historical background to Beethoven’s Violin Concerto
- Recognise the influence of Beethoven’s contemporaries on the Violin Concerto
- Understand the changes in musical taste brought about by recorded performances
- Comment confidently on the suitability (or not) of the many cadenzas written for this concerto
What else do I need to know?
N/A
View full course information sheet
Branch Event: The “King of Concertos”: Exploring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto
