Beethoven Violin Concerto Premiered on This Day 209 Years Ago [VIDEO]

Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 61 premiered on this day in 1806 – 209 years ago.

The first performance was given by Austrian violin virtuoso Franz Clement - in the Theater an der Wien in Vienna.

Legend has it Beethoven finished the work only minutes before the scheduled start - leaving the soloist and orchestra to sight-read the performance.

Out of annoyance, Clement is said to have interrupted the premiere between the first and second movements with a solo composition of his own – played on one string and with the violin held upside down.

BEETHOVEN VIOLIN CONCERTO | HENRYK SZERYNG | HANS ZEHNDER | SAARBRUCKEN RADIO SYMPHONY