Klengel, Julius

Klengel, Julius – Cellokonzert Nr. 2 in d-Moll, Op. 20

(b. Leipzig, Germany 24 September 1859 – d. Leipzig Germany 27 October 1933)

Allegro non troppo p.1
Andante – Scherzo, Allegro molto vivace – Andante p.72
Finale p.117

Preface
Julius Klengel’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 20, is a significant Romantic-era composition that reflects both the historical context of late nineteenth-century cello music and Klengel’s personal artistry as a performer, teacher, and composer. The concerto was composed in the early 1880s, premiered by Klengel himself in Leipzig in 1883, and published in 1887. It is dedicated to Klengel’s wife, highlighting its lyrical and intimate qualities.

Julius Klengel, a prominent Leipzig-based cellist and composer, was deeply influenced by the German Romantic tradition and the musical culture of Leipzig. His long tenure as principal cellist of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and his lineage of musicians in his family shaped his technical and stylistic foundation. Klengel’s career coincided with a period when the cello was gaining recognition as a solo instrument, and he contributed to its development through compositions and pedagogical works. His music reflects conservative Romantic values, emphasizing melodic clarity and structural coherence over radical innovation, influenced by composers like Brahms and Mendelssohn.

The concerto was completed by 1882 and premiered in Leipzig on January 25, 1883, likely with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Carl Reinecke. That Klengel performed as the soloist, was a common practice at the time. The dedication to his wife suggests a personal emotional dimension to the work. Klengel’s compositional philosophy emphasized idiomatic cello writing, balancing virtuosity with expressive musical substance. …

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