Beethoven, Ludwig van - Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II - Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis

When Emperor Joseph II died in 1790, Beethoven was already a member of the Bonn court music circle. To mark the occasion, Beethoven was commissioned to write two cantatas, one to mourn Joseph's death and the other to celebrate Emperor Leopold II's accession to the throne. Although Beethoven was only 19 years old at the time, both works show early signs of his greatness: one displays intense expression and mastery of structure, while the other has an almost operatic character. Neither work was performed during Beethoven's lifetime.