About this edition
Composed largely between 1795 and 1797 and premiered by Beethoven himself in Prague in 1798, the Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 stands as the young composer's bold introduction to the Viennese concerto tradition. Though numbered first, it was actually completed after the B-flat Concerto, Op. 19 — Beethoven assigned it the earlier opus number because he considered it the stronger and more polished work. Brilliant, witty, and structurally ambitious, it points unmistakably toward the symphonic scale of his later concertos, while still glittering with Mozartean elegance and Haydnesque humor.
This score is reproduced from the celebrated Breitkopf und Härtel complete edition, Ludwig van Beethovens Werke, Serie 9: Für Pianoforte und Orchester, No. 65 (Leipzig, c. 1862, plate B.65). Issued in the decades following Beethoven's death, the Breitkopf Gesamtausgabe was the first comprehensive critical edition of the composer's works and served as the standard reference for generations of conductors, performers, and scholars. Its careful engraving, generous layout, and editorial rigor have ensured its enduring authority, and it remains a touchstone source even alongside more recent scholarly editions.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score (conductor's score) with solo piano part
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches, printed for clarity and durability
- Faithfully reproduced from the public domain Breitkopf und Härtel edition
- Suitable for study, rehearsal, and performance reference
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
We're pleased to make this historic edition available again in a clean, affordable printed format. Because the original score is in the public domain, we can offer this cornerstone of the concerto repertoire to conductors, pianists, orchestral musicians, students, and scholars who want a beautiful working copy on their desk or music stand.
