Walter Meyer ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>Earlier today I was listening to a broadcast of Beethoven's Violin
>Concerto performed by Joseph Swensen w/ Previn conducting the Royal
>Philharmonic.  He played a fascinating cadenza which I didn't recognize.
>While it had some timpani accompaniment, it didn't have the piano addition
>that I recall from another performance.  Is the one I heard today the
>Schnittke cadenza? Or was the one w/ the piano thrown in by Schnittke?
>Or are they both by him?

The cadneza with timps (unless there's another) was actually written by
Beethoven, but for Op.61a the piano transcription of the Violin Cocnerto
(which I absolutely will *not* call the Piano Concerto No.6 - it was
written before the Empereror for a start).

AFAIK the old Schneiderhan/Jochum was the first recording to use
a transcription for violin (and timps) of Ludo's cadenza.  On the
Kremer/Harnoncourt recording (Teldec) this cadenza is also used, but
with an offstage piano included, which is relayed through speakers (!
I kid you not).

Unfortunately, the liner note is unclear in all four languages as to who
made this arrangement and more importanbtly WHY?

(Kremer used the Schnittke cadenza in his earlier recording for Phillips
w. Marriner IIRC)

Deryk Barker
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