Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15, was actually his third piano concerto, having been preceded by a concerto in E-flat major and the B-flat major concerto (now known as No. 2).
Composition History
The C minor concerto's premiere in Vienna on April 5, 1803, featured Beethoven as soloist, but the piece was not fully written down, with his friend Ignaz von Seyfried turning mostly blank pages.
Performer Biography
Elisabeth Westenholz, the pianist on this recording, studied with Alfred Brendel in Vienna and has received several awards, including the Carl Nielsen Travelling Prize.
Composition History
Beethoven made his second public appearance in Vienna as both composer and pianist in a concert organized by Joseph Haydn, where he likely played the C major concerto.
Critical Reception
Beethoven did not consider his C major concerto an 'unreserved success' but found it better than his B-flat major work, leading him to publish it first.
Performer Biography
Michael Schonwandt, the conductor, has been the conductor at Copenhagen's Royal Theatre since 1979 and principal guest conductor at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels since 1983.
Composition History
The Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major was first performed at the Burgtheater in Vienna on March 29, 1795, with Beethoven himself as the soloist.
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