James Ehnes & Beethoven

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• Beethoven’s Violin Concerto is now firmly accepted as one of the greats of the repertoire, but it didn’t start out that way. Unlike many other pieces by the great composer, it certainly didn’t become an instant hit. Beethoven rattled off the concerto in remarkably short time. He took just a few weeks to compose it in the winter of 1806, and it was premiered within days of its completion on December 23. This was a fairly rushed affair. The soloist hadn’t had time to learn his part, so spent a good deal of the concert sight-reading. It’s hard to imagine Beethoven being too pleased with such an approach.

• If Beethoven had been alive today, he would have become rich through royalties alone: mobile phone ringtones, musical arrangements of all styles, prints of his music on bags, cups and umbrellas. Not to mention the proceeds from the right to perform his works.