Happy Birthday, Kreutzer Sonata

One of LvB's most significant works, the Kreutzer violin sonata debuted on this date in 1803. Among other things, it inspired the famaous novella of that name by Tolstoy, which I have covered here in recent weeks by way of the stage play (which I saw in NY) and movie. In our new book, I briefly discuss the recent Rita Dove epic poem about George Bridgewater (the half-black violinist) and Beethoven inspired by an incident on this day. Here's a Wikipedia write-up and then video of the great Milstein.

"The sonata was originally dedicated to the violinist George Bridgetower (1778–1860), who performed it with Beethoven at the premiere on 24 May 1803 at the Augarten Theatre at a concert that started at the unusually early hour of 8:00 am. Bridgetower sight-read the sonata; he had never seen the work before, and there had been no time for any rehearsal. However, research indicates that after the performance, while the two were drinking, Bridgetower insulted the morals of a woman whom Beethoven cherished. Enraged, Beethoven removed the dedication of the piece, dedicating it instead to Rodolphe Kreutzer, who was considered the finest violinist of the day.However, Kreutzer never performed it, considering it "outrageously unintelligible."

Young Beethoven

Young HJ Lim got nice review in NYT a couple weeks back for recital and has just released complete LvB sonatas via iTunes for just $9.99.  Here's video of her talking and playing:

The Ninth's New York Debut

Just back from a week in France (with no Beethoven exposure), but here is today's "Composer's Notebook" from American Public Media:   "On today's date in 1846, a Grand Festival Concert took place at New York's Castle Garden, a popular spot for 19th century Manhattanites to enjoy fireworks, balloon ascensions, ice cream, and band concerts.

"The band on this occasion consisted of some 400 vocalists and instrumentalists, including members of the four-year-old New York Philharmonic. They gave, for the first time in America, a complete performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, the "Choral Symphony."

"In attendance was a 26-year old lawyer named George Templeton Strong, who kept a diary and recorded his impressions -- which were not favorable:  'A splendid failure, I'm sorry to say," he wrote. "The first movement was utterly barren . . . the minuet was well enough, quite brilliant in parts [and] the only point I found worth remembering in the whole piece . . . then came an andante (very tedious) . . . then the fourth movement with its chorus, which was a bore . . . a small achievement for Beethoven, and the orchestra might as well have been playing at the bottom of a well...'"

Viva France

Heading to Nantes for annual visit with daughter and young grandson, so in honor, Helene Grimaud doing the Choral Fantasy in 2008, although we could have picked Aimard, I guess. See you in a week or so.

A Borne Leader

This may now be my favorite version of "The Archduke," which is saying something.

Happy Anniversary to the Ninth!

Yes, Beethoven's epic premiered on this date in 1824 and hasn't aged a day since (see item below on  NYT referring to it last week in headline on its front-page--in story about Mariano Rivera).   Here's the fictionalized, but still worthwhile, depiction in the film Copying Beethoven.  Catch up with my piece over the weekend on how the "Ode to Joy" calls the tune in global protest, with great clip from Madrid. And, as always, check out our new book.

Sunday Morning in the Church of Beethoven

This week's "sermon":  the not-so-well known but great late work, "The Consecration of the House" overture.  Dig the counterpoint! 

Mo, Where That Came From

Just another example of LvB's omnipresence in the world: Front-page NYT headline yesterday on NY Yankees great reliever Mariano Rivera going down with season-ending injury that turns out will not be career-ending: "For Rivera, Maestro of the Ninth, Injury Is Not Final Symphony."

Beethoven, King of May (Day)?

My new piece at The Nation on how Beethoven "set the tune" for May Day protests.

Beethoven Rock Opera

Yes, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is still around, and in fact on tour in USA now with their venerable rock opera, "Beethoven's Last Night."  Here's the trailer for the tour and you can find much more via YouTube.

Violin Sanity

Good interview on the Violin Concerto with young violinist Lisa Batiashvili, who has been getting kudos from NY Times and The New Yorker lately and is doing LvB again in NYC soon.