Preorder: Beethoven Piano Concerto Op. 61a

We are proud to announce our newest album is now available to pre-order!

The official release date is 25 October 2024.

This album features a fresh interpretation on period instruments of Ludwig van Beethoven's seldom-heard Piano Concerto in D major Op. 61a – Beethoven’s own piano transcription of his famous Violin Concerto Op. 61, completed during 1807. The solo is performed by Anders Muskens on an original fortepiano by John Broadwood & Sons in London c. 1806, restored by Paul Kobald in Amsterdam in 2022. He is accompanied by the ensemble Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester, jointly led by Muskens and Australian / British concertmaster Rachael Beesley. Our approach indulges in the expressivity and emotionality of early Romantic aesthetics, and we dare to engage and experiment with expressive devices of the nineteenth-century orchestra. Many of these devices, like tempo and rhythmic flexibility, dislocation, and portamenti, are not commonly practiced by today’s orchestras; however, they were integral to the nineteenth-century orchestral performing practice. This album presents a new take on Beethoven, inspired by historical sources, that challenges the status quo. 

This piano concerto is a variant of the famous violin concerto Op. 61 adapted for piano by Beethoven himself. The premiere of the violin original in 1806 was met with a mixed reception, and the work remained relatively obscure until it was revived by Joachim and Mendelssohn in 1844. Thus, this version for fortepiano was produced by Beethoven during 1807 at the request of his pianist-colleague and businessman, Muzio Clementi, for publication in London. Thus, a choice of an English fortepiano with English grand piano action from the year 1806 is very appropriate. 

FEATURING

Anders Muskens: fortepiano
Rachael Beesley: concertmaster,
and Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester

Grand pianoforte by John Broadwood & Sons, London c. 1806. Restored by Paul Kobald in Amsterdam c. 2022.

TRACK LISTING

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto in D major Op. 61a

1. Allegro ma non troppo
   Cadenza: Ludwig van Beethoven, adapted to a 5 ½ octave piano compass by Anders Muskens

2. Larghetto
   Ausgang: Anders Muskens, improvised

3. Rondo. Allegro
   Eingang: Anders Muskens, improvised
   Cadenza: Anders Muskens, semi-improvised