Violin Concerto (Dvořák)

Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53 (B.108) is a concerto for violin and orchestra composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1879. The concerto was premiered in 1883 by František Ondříček in Prague. He also gave the premieres in Vienna and London. Today it remains an important work in the violin repertoire.

The concerto's structure is the classical three movements of fast-slow-fast.

1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Adagio ma non troppo
3. Finale: Allegro giocoso ma non troppo

Antonín Dvořák was inspired to write his concerto after having met Joseph Joachim in 1878 and composed the work with the intention of dedicating it him. However, when he finished the concerto in 1879, Joachim became skeptical about it. Joachim was a strict classicist and objected to Dvořák's inter alia, or his abrupt truncation of the first movement's orchestral tutti. Joachim also didn't like the fact that the recapitulation was cut short and that it led directly to the slow second movement. It is also assumed that he was upset with the persistent repetition found in the third movement. However, Joachim never said anything outright and instead claimed to be editing the solo part. He never actually performed the piece.

Recordings

Notable recordings of the concerto include:

• Váša Příhoda, Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera under Paul van Kempen^[1][2][3]
• Josef Suk, Czech Philharmonic under Karel Ančerl
• Ilya Kaler, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under Camila Kolchinsky
• Georg Kulenkampff, Berliner Philarmoniker under Eugen Jochum
• Adolf Busch, National Orchestral Association Orchestra under Leon Barzin
• Itzhak Perlman, Philadelphia Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim
• Isaac Stern, Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy
• Anne-Sophie Mutter for Deutsche Grammophon (2013)

External links

• Info on a comprehensive Dvorak site
• Violin Concerto: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• YouTube recording of Itzhak Perlman performing the 3rd movement.

References

v t e Antonín Dvořák Operas Alfred King and Charcoal Burner The Stubborn Lovers Vanda The Cunning Peasant Dimitrij The Jacobin The Devil and Kate Rusalka Armida Symphonies Symphony No. 1 in C minor (The Bells of Zlonice) Symphony No. 2 in B♭ major Symphony No. 3 in E♭ major Symphony No. 4 in D minor Symphony No. 5 in F major Symphony No. 6 in D major Symphony No. 7 in D minor Symphony No. 8 in G major Symphony No. 9 in E minor (From the New World) Concertos Piano Concerto in G minor Violin Concerto in A minor Cello Concerto in B minor Cello Concerto in A major Orchestra works A Hero's Song Carnival Overture Czech Suite in D major In Nature's Realm Legends My Home Othello Overture Serenade for Strings in E major Slavonic Dances Suite in A major (American) Symphonic Variations The Golden Spinning Wheel The Noon Witch The Water Goblin The Wild Dove Tragic Overture Vocal music Moravian Duets Requiem Saint Ludmilla Stabat Mater Chamber music String quartets String Quartet No. 1 in A major String Quartet No. 5 in F minor String Quartet No. 8 in E major String Quartet No. 10 in E♭ major (Slavonic) String Quartet movement in F major String Quartet No. 11 in C major String Quartet No. 12 in F major (American) String Quartet No. 13 in G major String Quartet No. 14 in A♭ major Other String Quintet No. 2 in G major String Quintet No. 3 in E♭ major (American) String Sextet in A major Serenade in D minor for Wind Instruments Sonatina in G major Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor (Dumky) Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major Miniatures Romantic Pieces Silent Woods Piano music Dumky in C minor Humoresques Legends Slavonic Dances Suite in A major (American) Related articles List of compositions by Antonín Dvořák Johannes Brahms Bedřich Smetana Neoromanticism Portal:Classical music