Cello Concerto (Kraft)

The concerto bears the title Premier Concerto Pour le Violoncelle composé et dédié à Monsieur le Comte Maurce de Fries chambellan SMJ (Sa Majesté Imperiale) par Antoine Kraft Executé par son Fils Nicolaus Antoine Kraft au Théatre imperial (Tous les deux, Violoncelles de S.A.S.

à Leipsic chez Breitkopf et Härtel[1] The dedicatee of the Concerto is Moritz von Fries, who was the wealthiest man in the monarchy at that time, and through his personal contact and financing allowed its publication and performance.

The second edition of the work was printed in 1961 in Prague by Státní hudební nakladatelství Praha (now editio Supraphon) SHV, 1961.

Antonin Kraft along with his son Nikolaus joined the orchestra of Count Anton Grassalkovich in Bratislava in 1790 as first cellist.

[4] In 1792 Ludwig van Beethoven established permanent residence in Vienna, and he soon made the acquaintance of Kraft.

Cover of the first edition, 1805
Old imperial theatre (Burgtheater), built in 1748 and destroyed at the end of the 19th century
Inside of the old Burgtheater, painting by Gustav Klimt .