Rodolphe Kreutzer: Violin Concerto , in D Major, Saskia Lethiec (violin)

Rodolphe Kreutzer: Violin Concerto No. 13 in D Major, Saskia Lethiec (violin), Orquestra do Norte, Porto, Jose Ferreria Lobo (conductor) – 0:00 – 12:23 3. Rondo – 17:02 Rodolphe Kreutzer (November 16, 1766 – January 6, 1831) was a French violinist, teacher, conductor, and composer. Kreutzer was born in Versailles, and was initially taught by his father, who was a musician in the royal chapel, with later lessons from Anton Stamitz. He became one of the foremost violin virtuosi of his day, appearing as a soloist until 1810. He was a violin professor at the Paris Conservatoire from its foundation in 1795 until 1826. He was co-author of the Conservatoire’s violin method with Pierre Rode and Pierre Baillot, and the three are considered the founding trinity of the French school of violin playing. For a time, Kreutzer was leader of the Paris Opera, and from 1817 he conducted there too. Kreutzer’s compositions include nineteen violin concertos and forty operas. His best known works, however, are the 42 études ou caprices (1796) (and 19 later, more difficult, ones) which are fundamental pedagogical studies. Kreutzer is probably best known as the dedicatee of the Sonata by Beethoven which bears his name (1803), though he never played the work, and indeed declared it unplayable. “As befits a work in D major the 13th Concerto is a grand affair, very serious and purposeful; even both themes of the first movement have the same hauteur about them; there is little contrast. There is much bravura writing in the first movement and lots of interaction between soloist and orchestra. The central adagio is of operatic aria dimensions – a big song for a full voiced soloist – which doesn’t outstay its welcome. The finale is a jaunty dance, with lovely interjections from the soloist, it’s absolutely delightful, and thoroughly entertaining.” (from notes by Bob Briggs)