Description
This edition is drawn from the full score edited by Bernard van der Linde and published in 1967 by G. Henle Verlag in section III, vol. 1 of the new Beethoven Gesamtausgabe. Historical background: Ever since the publication of the essay collection Beethoven in Böhmen (edited by Sieghard Brandenburg and Martella Gutiérrez-Denhoff; Bonn, 1988), we know that Beethoven’s Triple Concerto was rehearsed as early as spring 1804 in the music room of the Palais Lobkowitz in Vienna. Two innovative works were presented in private performance for Prince Lobkowitz with no audience in attendance: the Third Symphony, op. 55, and the Concerto for Piano, Violin, Violoncello, and orchestra op. 56. On 11 June the Prince paid the bill for both rehearsals. (The musicologists Volek and Macek located the voucher, which is reproduced in the aforementioned book.) These rehearsals had two purposes. First, they gave Beethoven an opportunity to make improvements on the basis of his aural impressions long before the works appeared in print. Second, his artloving benefactor had a chance to become acquainted with two of Beethoven’s very latest works and to form an opinion and an appreciation of their merits. It need hardly be mentioned that both pieces were dedicated to Prince Lobkowitz. On 26 and 29 October he transferred to the composer’s account, as remuneration, 700 gulden and 80 ducats in gold. (Beethoven’s two receipts – including the second of 5 November 1804 acknowledging receipt of 80 ducats, possibly for the Triple Concerto – are likewise reproduced in the above-mentioned volume.) The soloists at these initial private performances of the Triple Concerto were the composer (piano) and two members of the Prince’s orchestra, Anton Wranitzky (violin) and Anton Kraft (violoncello).