Piano Concerto No. 5 (Beethoven)

The 5th piano concerto op 73 in E flat major is the last piano concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven. In the English-speaking world, the concert is also known under the title of Emperor.

Formation

The concerto was written in 1809, the same year as the Egmont Overture, and is dedicated to Archduke Rudolph. Beethoven composed the concerto in an advanced state of numbness, during Napoleon's troops occupied Vienna with artillery fire.

About the Music

1st movement: Allegro

The first movement begins with one for the Viennese Classical completely new introduction - with an E major triad of the orchestra, after which the piano enters with a fully composed virtuoso cadenza. The orchestra marks the key change in A-flat major and B flat major, each followed by gorgeous piano passages that eventually lead back to the home key. Only now is the orchestra in the exposition prior to the lively main theme. The second theme, in E flat minor, first in eighth notes and eighth rests in between, later legato, provides a strong contrast to the main theme and caused a change in mood. Then head of the piano with a chromatically ascending run back to the main topic about / Exposure II The second theme in the piano begins unexpectedly in B minor and changes - enharmonically changed - according to G flat major and C flat major. Only in the following orchestral passage that expected for the second theme dominant key of B- flat major is reached. In B - flat major and the subsequent molding implementation is then opened with the main theme and leads into a dialogue between orchestra and piano by various tone colors, designs and tonalities. In the recapitulation, the main theme is brilliant and shiny resumed. The second theme reappears, now encircled by virtuoso figurations, the peppy lead together with the orchestra at the end of the sentence. Instead of a virtuoso cadenza Beethoven wrote an advertised passage that goes into the final coda.

2nd movement: Adagio un poco mosso

The Adagio is set in B major, an enharmonic confused with Es-Dur terzverwandten key. Muted strings first make before a worn, chorale -like theme, before the piano enters and takes over the theme floating to the accompaniment of the orchestra. It modulates to D major, and returns with the orchestra back to the home key of B major. At the end of poignant sentence conduct two bassoons chromatically from H to B - on the piano indicates twice softly the theme of the third movement, worn two horns play the B and the E-flat major Rondo closes attacca to.

3rd movement: Rondo Allegro

In the final movement the piano begins to thunderous fortissimo with the main theme, which consists of a jagged - emerging triad and a downward run counter motif. The orchestra repeats the main theme and carries it further. The vocal then a second subject ( dolce ) appears on the piano. Beethoven can here the form of the Rondo, as in the Viennese Classical usual blend with the sonata form. In a development section the main theme of the keys C major, A flat major and E major is out an extended trill on the dominant B leads into the recapitulation. The coda consists primarily of a longer passage of the piano with the bass drum, the ostinato is slowing down and almost died away, before the piano suddenly leads back to the beginning character and the orchestra is a triumphant finale with the shortened main theme.

Effect

The work was first performed on 28 November 1811 the pianist Friedrich Schneider at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. It was from the start a great success, even if the first Vienna performance of Beethoven's pupil Carl Czerny faced resistance on February 11, 1812 with the public. The 5th Piano Concerto is now the world's most performed piano concerts and enjoys great popularity.

The concert in the complete works of Beethoven

Beethoven's last pure Piano Concerto ( he wrote his Violin Concerto, Op 61 for piano to later ) is the peak of his development of the genre. Just this concert lasting influence on later artists, and the further development of the genre. It continues the style of symphonic piano concerto, Beethoven had begun in the previous fourth piano concerto. This work presents the development of Beethoven's first four piano concertos and shows the way to symphonic piano concerto style, as it inter alia later Johannes Brahms coined. In the key of E flat major include, among other 3rd Symphony, the Eroica Variations and four piano sonatas. It was used by Beethoven often to represent musical heroism. The concerto was written in Beethoven's middle period around the fifth to seventh symphony or the fourth piano concerto. The decade 1803-1813 was Beethoven's most productive phase of work.