Event Details

An NCPA Presentation

Beethoven: Violin Concerto

In this series of talks on Western classical music, Dr. Cavas Bilimoria takes listeners through musical concepts, the lives of composers and their famous works, interspersed with examples from recorded music. The sessions this month will offer deeper insight into the music being featured in the SOI Autumn 2026 Season.

In 1794, Beethoven met a precocious 13-year-old violinist Franz Clement and had no hesitation in selecting him for premiering his violin concerto on 23rd December 1806. However, this noblest of all violin concertos was not immediately a great success due to several reasons—insufficient preparation time, a long three-minute wait for the soloist to enter, a brusque ending and a ‘lack of overt virtuosity’ among others. It was not until the 13-year-old Joseph Joachim played the concerto in London in 1844, with no less than Felix Mendelssohn conducting the orchestra, that the concerto became popular.

Entry free on a first come, first served basis.