Who was Franz Clement?
Franz Joseph Clement (November 17, 1780 Vienna – November 3, 1842 Vienna) was an Austrian violinist and composer, director and concertmaster of the Theater an der Wien.
Young Franz played the violin since the age of four. His main teacher was his father who was a butler for a nobleman and a member of his house orchestra. At age of seven he already had his first public concert, and at the age of 10 was touring in London, where he presumably met and played with Haydn.
Upon his return to Vienna he was appointed as a violinist for the Emperor, and from 1802 also as the conductor for the newly established Theatre an der Wien. For the coming decades he was often traveling Europe (mainly Russia and the German territories). He died in Vienna in 1842 among difficult financial circumstances.
His talent as a musician was legendary, especially his memory. He was able to remember complete works from just one reading and play from memory. After listening to Haydn’s Creation for a few times, he made a piano arrangement so perfect, that Haydn observing the score accepted his version for publication.
Clement was considered as an old-fashioned player who played on a traditional fingerboard and traditional bow. He was celebrated for his elegance and delicacy.
The cooperation of Beethoven and Clement
The two are said to make acquaintance in 1794, when Beethoven attended a performance of the fourteen-years old prodigy. In a guest book for Clement he wrote, “Go forth on the way in which you hitherto have travelled so beautifully, so magnificently. Nature and art vie with each other in making you a great artist.”
A decade later, April 7, 1805, at the Theater an der Wien, a benefit concert for Clement hosted the premiere of Beethoven’s Third Symphony (the Eroica).
The two cooperated again in Fidelio (Beethoven’s only opera) and of course in 1806 with the Violin Concerto that was specially written for and commissioned by Clement. On the original manuscript Beethoven wrote: Concerto par Clemenza pour Clement {Concerto for Clemency from Clement}, primo violino e Direttore al Theatro à Vienne dal L. v. Bthvn., 1806.
The marathon concert of December 22, 1808 (with eight works on the program, including the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies as premier), was again a cooperation, Clement being the concertmaster, and in 1824 with the Ninth Symphony – just to name the famous ones.
The two remained friends till the end, Clement visited Beethoven in his final days and tried to support the dying composer.
