Violinkonzert Nr. 2 (An die Unsterbliche Geliebte)

The subtitle of Detlev Glanert’s second violin concerto refers to the letter written by Beethoven, but never posted, to ‘the immortal beloved’. This declaration of love was found among the composer’s papers at the time of his death and has prompted endless speculation about the identity of the intended female recipient. Glanert’s three-movement concerto, played without a break, is a wordless reflection on the letter. Each movement focuses on an extract from the text, written in the morning, the evening, and the following morning, journeying from awkward turbulence, through idyllic tenderness, to passionate farewell. The virtuosic cadenzas provide focal points for the emotional discourse. The work provides a modern alternative to Beethoven’s own Violin Concerto, echoing its rhapsodic style.