Clement: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Conductor Reinhard Goebel is one of the most famous personalities of the German classical music world, an "icon of the Early Music and a never-ending source for repertoire treasures. For Beethoven's anniversary year 2020, "Beethoven's World" now appears as the result of a long-standing research and music project in which Reinhard Goebel explores unknown works by Beethoven and his contemporaries, thereby encouraging a relocation of Beethoven.

The present recording is the first album of "Beethoven's World" and features the two violin concertos by Franz Joseph Clement (1780-1842). Clement was considered one of the greatest violin virtuosos of his time and Beethoven dedicated his Violin Concerto to Clement by writing on the score "Concerto par Clemenza pour Clement" and which can be considered in response to Clement's first Violin Concerto of 1805. The similarities between Clement's Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven's Concerto op. 61 are by no means accidental. Rather, they reflect the way in which the 2 composers could refer directly to one another, tossing balls back and forth with a nod and a wink and sparking creative reactions - a process repeated in reverse in the case of Clement's Second Violin Concerto that was written only a short time afterwards. Both violin concertos by Franz Clement can be heard on this album for the first time - the second violin concerto is a world premiere recording. The works were recorded by Mirijam Contzen with WDR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Reinhard Goebel. Fascinating music that allows a different view of the exceptional composer Beethoven.