Violin Concerto No. 1 (Prokofiev)
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The Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, opus 19, written in 1916–7 by Sergei Prokofiev, is a work in three movements:
- Andantino
- Scherzo: Vivacissimo
- Moderato - Andante
It premiered on October 18, 1923 at the Paris Opera with Marcel Darrieux playing the violin part and the Paris Opera Orchestra conducted by Serge Koussevitzky. Not a success during its premiere, it has since become one of the most popular and well-loved concerti around. The composer Igor Stravinsky, who did not like Prokofiev's music in general, admired this concerto.
The work opens ethereally, gains momentum and becalms; this describes both the opening movement, and the piece taken as a whole. The three movements begin in D major, E minor and G minor, and the work closes in a manner similar to that of the opening movement, seeming to climb peacefully. The concerto is scored for moderate-sized orchestra with a small percussion section.
[edit] External links
- More on the History of the Concerto, from a Program Note
- Prokofiev.org page on Concerto
- Free recording by the Columbia University Orchestra.
Concertos by Sergei Prokofiev |
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Piano Concerto No. 1 | Piano Concerto No. 2 Piano Concerto No. 3 | Piano Concerto No. 4 Piano Concerto No. 5 | Piano Concerto No. 6 Violin Concerto No. 1 | Violin Concerto No. 2 Cello Concerto | Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra Cello Concertino |