The Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor is a composition for double bass and orchestra by Giovanni Bottesini. The concerto holds a central place in double bass repertoire, demonstrating a level of technical virtuosity that had not been seen before in the instrument.
The concerto was written in 1845 while Bottesini maintained a principal bass position at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice. The original version of the piece was written while the composer was a student in the Milan Conservatory. In 1845, the composer expanded the orchestra to include woodwinds and brass while keeping the solo part. The concerto would see its first performance in 1851 by the composer himself. The work would not be published until 1925, well after the composer’s death.
Tonight’s soloist is Karena Tam.
