Description

The composition published in 1802 represents a distinct concert piece separate from Opus 51 No. 1. Compared to the first Rondo (Op. 51 No. 1), this second Rondo is significantly longer and has a markedly different expressive character. Here, lyrical elements predominate, without the dramatic flourishes that are so emblematic of Beethoven's compositions. As a result, this relatively reserved work did not achieve the same popularity as the Rondo Op. 51 No. 1 and continues to invite rediscovery. Based on her preliminary research for the critical Complete Edition, Beethoven scholar Joanna Cobb Biermann has carefully revised the musical text of the Henle Urtext edition and updated the preface to reflect the latest scholarship.