Beethoven, "Triple Concerto"

Written between 1804 and 1805, the Triple Concerto was not premiered until 1808 at the Augarten Summer Concerts in Vienna, with Beethoven at the piano. For a time it was thought that the work had been written for Archduke Rudolf, who had become an accomplished pianist under Ludwig's tutelage. But in 1805 Beethoven sent the manuscript to be published with a dedication to his closest noble friend, soon to be the most modest of his patrons before he went bankrupt, Prince Joseph Franz von Lobkowitz.

Beethoven's patrons - The yearning for a fixed income
In 1806 Beethoven had tried to resume his career as a playwright, given the success achieved by the opera Fidelio in 1805. He sent a letter to the commission that governed the imperial theaters of Vienna committing himself to compose an opera and an operetta every year, in exchange for 2,400 florins plus benefits (those corresponding to the third representation of each one). The request was denied.

Two years later, Jérôme Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon I), newly crowned king of Westphalia, extended an invitation to Beethoven offering him the position of Kapellmeister at his provincial court in Cassel. The possibility of reaching a fixed income – a maestro's old dream – appeared to become a reality: the salary was advantageous, although the relocation meant leaving the splendor of Vienna and the circle of his friends. Beethoven was enthusiastic.

Prince Lobkowitz (1772 - 1816)
dedicatée of Violin Concerto

But when it became known that the maestro was planning to leave the imperial capital, several close friends launched a campaign to keep him in Vienna. Thus was born the famous contract signed in 1808 by three of his most faithful noble friends, who undertook to pay Beethoven a sum of not less than four thousand florins a year as long as the maestro remained in the capital of the empire. Beethoven signed the contract, rejecting Jérôme's offer.

Prince Kinski had pledged 1800 florins but in 1812 he fell off a horse and died. (And the family did not want to know anything about patronage contracts.) Prince Lobkowitz, as if he had foreseen it, modestly offered only 700 florins, because before long he went bankrupt. Only Archduke Rudolph of Austria fulfilled the agreement and religiously paid his share, 1,500 florins, year after year.

Concerto for piano, violin, cello and orchestra, in C major, Opus 56, "Triple Concerto".
Despite the undeniable quality of the work, in its time the critics opinion was not favorable about it. However, it has remained in the repertoire until today and has not ceased to delight the audience.

The rendition is by the Ludwig Trio, accompanied by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, conducted by Víctor Pablo. The Ludwig Trio is formed by the brothers Abel Tomás (violin), Arnau Tomás (cello) and the South Korean pianist Hyo-Sun Lim.

Allegro  The thematic material is delivered first by the orchestra and then taken up by the solo instruments, first the cello, then the violin and finally the piano. The main theme is built on a drawing sketched by cellos and double basses.

Largo 18:20 Very short but rich in expression. After a somewhat tragic introduction by the orchestra, the cellos introduce the main motive in a particularly high register (18:44). The piano joins in later with a delicate unison arpeggio figuration at 20:27. The movement links with the last, with no pause.

Rondo alla polacca  23:42  A vividly repeated note by the solo cello introduces the movement which, according to alla polacca indication, must be played with the rhythm and character of a polonaise. The theme is lively, and plays with specific sounds of Polish folklore. In the end, the rondo theme is picked up in brilliant virtuous passages by the three soloists.