Concerto No. 2, Op.30 Cover Image

Concerto No. 2, Op.30: Cello, Solo with Piano, Solo with Piano

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Concerto No. 2, Op.30 Cover Image
Concerto No. 2, Op.30: Cello, Solo with Piano, Solo with Piano

Concerto No. 2, Op.30: Cello, Solo with Piano, Solo with Piano

By Victor Herbert

Item: 36-M339891
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A virtuosic masterpiece for cello! Herbert premiered his 2ND CONCERTO FOR VIOLONCELLO in March 1894, and not only was it well received, but it has since become his most popular work for cello. Present at the premiere was Antonin Dvorak, who was so impressed by Herbert's virtuosic playing and composition that he was inspired to write his own famous B minor Cello Concerto.

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Additional Details
Series: Master String Series - LudwigMasters
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 8-89-563193-5
ISBN13: 979-8-89-563193-5
UPC: 660355125331
SKU: 36-M339891
Instrumentation: Cello and Piano

More about this title

About the Composer: Victor Herbert

Victor Herbert (1859, 1924) was an Irish-American composer and cellist who became one of the most prolific and celebrated figures in American music. He served as principal cellist of the New York Metropolitan Opera under Anton Seidl before establishing himself as a major composer across operetta, film scores, and concert works. His technical mastery at the cello informed every note he wrote for the instrument, producing works of genuine virtuosity that remain cornerstones of the solo cello repertoire.

Herbert's Second Cello Concerto stands as evidence of his compositional maturity and command of form. The work's premiere in 1894 was attended by Antonin Dvorak, whose own legendary B minor Cello Concerto was partly inspired by Herbert's example. This piece continues to define what is musically possible and rewarding for advanced cellists.

Why we love this

This concerto occupies a rare space in the standard cello literature: genuinely brilliant writing that never sacrifices musicality for display. The orchestration (here arranged with piano) breathes room for the soloist while maintaining the dramatic architecture that made this Herbert's most enduring contribution to the cello world.

What to expect

Grand and rhetorical, with a soloist who commands the stage while the piano provides both support and dialogue. The writing sings with Romantic warmth, building through virtuosic passages that feel earned rather than gratuitous, and the overall arc is one of dignity and considerable emotional depth.

Who it's for

Advanced cellists preparing for competitions, auditions, or concert performances who want a work with genuine historical significance and virtuosic appeal. This is the concerto to play when you want to demonstrate not just technical mastery but also sophisticated musical maturity.

How to get the most out of it

  • Respect the technical passages without rushing them; Herbert writes virtuosity that lives in the melodic line, not just the mechanics of the left hand.
  • Balance the soloistic sections against the piano accompaniment by imagining the full orchestra behind you, even though you're playing with piano alone.
  • Shape the slower cantabile sections with the flexibility and tone color that makes this work memorable; the technical passages serve the broader musical narrative.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece concerto on a recital or competition format where it will anchor a program of works spanning different periods and styles. The work's prominence in cello history makes it ideal for educational concerts designed to highlight major milestones in the solo cello repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Multi-position facility across the entire fingerboard with rapid shifts
  • Double-stop clarity and intonation in virtuosic passage work
  • Sustained cantabile tone production at multiple dynamic levels
  • Coordination between rhythmically independent left and right hand figures
  • Musical architecture and structural phrasing across an extended solo form

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