There is a saying in much of eastern Europe, “Every child is born with a violin under their pillow”. Parents dream of their child becoming a great violinist, not a doctor or a lawyer as so many do in America. Most composers have written at least one violin concerto hoping to challenge the soloist while creating a work of beauty. We will listen to many of today’s most popular concertos by Beethoven, Mozart, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky, and to Bill tell the stories of some concerts that were originally rejected by the soloists as being technically unplayable.
The Violin Concerto
Playlist
Episode 1
Mendelssohn, Felix: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in E Minor, I (excerpt)
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink; Perlman, violin
Mendelssohn: Concerto in E Minor / Bruch: Concerto No. 1 In G Minor
EMI 47074
1:18
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons; Autumn (excerpt)
English Concert/Pinnock; Simon Standage, violin
Le Quattro Stagioni
Archiv 400045
1:33
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons; Autumn (excerpt)
English Concert/Pinnock; Simon Standage, violin
Le Quattro Stagioni
Archiv 400045
10:17
Bach, JS: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042, I.
Academy of Ancient Music/Andrew Manze, violin
Solo & Double Violin Concertos
HM 907155
7:22
Bach, JS: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042, II & III
Academy of Ancient Music/Andrew Manze, violin
Solo & Double Violin Concertos
HM 907155
8:39
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major, K. 216, III
Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra/Zinman; Pam Frank, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos, Haffner Serenade
Arte Nova 721040
5:58
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 4 in D Major, K. 218, II
New Symphony Orchestra/Sargent; Jascha Heifetz, violin
The Heifetz Collection Vol 30 – Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi
RCA 61761
6:21
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, I (excerpt)
German Chamber Philharmonic/Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos No 3-5
Virgin 82122
1:23
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, III
German Chamber Philharmonic/Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos No 3-5
Virgin 82122
8:33
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, III (excerpt)
German Chamber Philharmonic/Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos No 3-5
Virgin 82122
1:25
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink; Perlman, violin
Mendelssohn: Concerto in E Minor / Bruch: Concerto No. 1 In G Minor
EMI 47074
1:18
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons; Autumn (excerpt)
English Concert/Pinnock; Simon Standage, violin
Le Quattro Stagioni
Archiv 400045
1:33
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons; Autumn (excerpt)
English Concert/Pinnock; Simon Standage, violin
Le Quattro Stagioni
Archiv 400045
10:17
Bach, JS: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042, I.
Academy of Ancient Music/Andrew Manze, violin
Solo & Double Violin Concertos
HM 907155
7:22
Bach, JS: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042, II & III
Academy of Ancient Music/Andrew Manze, violin
Solo & Double Violin Concertos
HM 907155
8:39
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major, K. 216, III
Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra/Zinman; Pam Frank, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos, Haffner Serenade
Arte Nova 721040
5:58
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 4 in D Major, K. 218, II
New Symphony Orchestra/Sargent; Jascha Heifetz, violin
The Heifetz Collection Vol 30 – Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi
RCA 61761
6:21
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, I (excerpt)
German Chamber Philharmonic/Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos No 3-5
Virgin 82122
1:23
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, III
German Chamber Philharmonic/Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos No 3-5
Virgin 82122
8:33
Mozart, WA: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, K. 219, III (excerpt)
German Chamber Philharmonic/Christian Tetzlaff, violin
Mozart: Violin Concertos No 3-5
Virgin 82122
1:25
Episode 2
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61, I (except)
Columbia Symphony/Walter; Zino Francescatti, violin
Violin Concertos
Sony 47659
00:20
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61, I
Columbia Symphony/Walter; Zino Francescatti, violin
Violin Concertos
Sony 47659
23:33
Beethoven (cad. Fritz Kreisler): Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61, I
Columbia Symphony/Walter; Zino Francescatti, violin
Violin Concertos
Sony 47659
2:05
Beethoven (cad. Alfred Schnittke): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, I (excerpt)
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner; Gidon Kremer, violin
Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Phil 410549
4:46
Beethoven (cad. Joshua Bell): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, I (excerpt)
Camerata Salzburg/Norrington; Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos
Sony 89505
4:09
Beethoven (cad. Joshua Bell): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, III
Camerata Salzburg/Norrington; Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos
Sony 89505
9:16
Beethoven (cad. Joshua Bell): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, III (excerpt)
Camerata Salzburg/Norrington; Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos
Sony 89505
00:20
Paganini, Niccolo: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in B Minor, La Campanella, III
Chamber Orchestra of Santa Cecilia/Ughi; Uto Ughi, violin
Scarce Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 4
RCA 7844
8:05
Columbia Symphony/Walter; Zino Francescatti, violin
Violin Concertos
Sony 47659
00:20
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61, I
Columbia Symphony/Walter; Zino Francescatti, violin
Violin Concertos
Sony 47659
23:33
Beethoven (cad. Fritz Kreisler): Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61, I
Columbia Symphony/Walter; Zino Francescatti, violin
Violin Concertos
Sony 47659
2:05
Beethoven (cad. Alfred Schnittke): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, I (excerpt)
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields/Marriner; Gidon Kremer, violin
Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Phil 410549
4:46
Beethoven (cad. Joshua Bell): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, I (excerpt)
Camerata Salzburg/Norrington; Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos
Sony 89505
4:09
Beethoven (cad. Joshua Bell): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, III
Camerata Salzburg/Norrington; Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos
Sony 89505
9:16
Beethoven (cad. Joshua Bell): Violin Concerto, Op. 61, III (excerpt)
Camerata Salzburg/Norrington; Joshua Bell, violin
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos
Sony 89505
00:20
Paganini, Niccolo: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in B Minor, La Campanella, III
Chamber Orchestra of Santa Cecilia/Ughi; Uto Ughi, violin
Scarce Paganini: Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 4
RCA 7844
8:05
Episode 3
Mendelssohn, Felix: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in e minor, Op. 64, I
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink; Perlman, violin
Mendelssohn: Concerto in E Minor / Bruch: Concerto No. 1 In G Minor
EMI 47074
13:02
Brahms, Johannes: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 77, I
New York Philharmonic/Masur; Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Mutter/Masur: Brahms Violin Concerto and Schumann
DG 457075
22:56
Viotti, Gionvanni: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 22 in a minor (excerpts)
Padova Chamber Orchestra/Golub; Mark Kaplan, violin
Viotti: Violin Concertos No 4, 22 & 24
Arab 6691
2:04
Viotti, Gionvanni: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 22 in A Minor (excerpts)
Padova Chamber Orchestra/Golub; Mark Kaplan, violin
Viotti: Violin Concertos No 4, 22 & 24
Arab 6691
1:44
Tchaikovsky, Peter: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 35, III
Berlin Philharmonic/Abbado; Midori, violin
Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos
Sony 68338
10:08
Brahms, Johannes: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 77, I (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/Masur; Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Mutter/Masur: Brahms Violin Concerto and Schumann
DG 457075
2:13
Concertgebouw Orchestra/Haitink; Perlman, violin
Mendelssohn: Concerto in E Minor / Bruch: Concerto No. 1 In G Minor
EMI 47074
13:02
Brahms, Johannes: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 77, I
New York Philharmonic/Masur; Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Mutter/Masur: Brahms Violin Concerto and Schumann
DG 457075
22:56
Viotti, Gionvanni: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 22 in a minor (excerpts)
Padova Chamber Orchestra/Golub; Mark Kaplan, violin
Viotti: Violin Concertos No 4, 22 & 24
Arab 6691
2:04
Viotti, Gionvanni: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 22 in A Minor (excerpts)
Padova Chamber Orchestra/Golub; Mark Kaplan, violin
Viotti: Violin Concertos No 4, 22 & 24
Arab 6691
1:44
Tchaikovsky, Peter: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 35, III
Berlin Philharmonic/Abbado; Midori, violin
Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos
Sony 68338
10:08
Brahms, Johannes: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D Major, Op. 77, I (excerpt)
New York Philharmonic/Masur; Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Mutter/Masur: Brahms Violin Concerto and Schumann
DG 457075
2:13
Episode 4
Sibelius, Jean: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, Op. 47, III (excerpt)
Academy of St. Martin in-the-Fields/Marriner; Leila Josefowicz, violin
Violin Concertos
Phil 446131
00:51
Sibelius, Jean: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, Op. 47, I
Academy of St. Martin in-the-Fields/Marriner; Leila Josefowicz, violin
Violin Concertos
Phil 446131
15:20
Elgar, Edward: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 61, III (excerpt)
London Symphony Orchestra/Davis; Hilary Hahn, violin
Elgar: Violin Concerto, op.61/Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
DG 474504
00:16
Elgar, Edward: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in B Minor, Op. 61, III
London Symphony Orchestra/Davis; Hilary Hahn, violin
Elgar: Violin Concerto, op.61 / Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
DG 474504
7:34
Berg, Alban: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Finale (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti; Kyung Wha Chung, violin
Violin Concerto / Violin Concerto No. 1
Lon 411804
00:27
Berg, Alban: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Finale (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti; Kyung Wha Chung, violin
Violin Concerto / Violin Concerto No. 1
Lon 411804
8:36
Barber, Samuel: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14, II
London Symphony Orchestra/Previn; Gil Shaham, violin
Violin Concertos • Much Ado About Nothing – Suite
DG 439886
8:49
Walton, William: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, II (excerpt)
Royal Philharmonic/Previn; Nigel Kennedy, violin
Violin Concerto • Viola Concerto
EMI 49628
00:19
Walton, William: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, II
Royal Philharmonic/Previn; Nigel Kennedy, violin
Violin Concerto • Viola Concerto
EMI 49628
6:39
Episode 5
Prokofiev, Sergei: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1, I
London Symphony Orchestra/Rostropovich; Max Vengerov, violin
Violin Concertos No.1
Teldec 92256
9:57
Weill, Kurt: Concerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra, II
English Symphony Orchestra/Boughton; Daniel Hope, violin
Daniel Hope – Schnittke, Takemitsu, Weill
Nimbus 5582
3:21
Stravinsky, Igor: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, I
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Ozawa; Itzhak Perlman, violin
Berg, Stravinsky: Violin Concertos
DG 447445
5:46
Bartók, Bela: Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, I
Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer; Thomas Zehetmair, violin
Violin Concertos №S 1 & 2
Berlin Cl 1134
15:02
Adams, John: Concerto for Violin, Part II: Body Through Which the Dream Flows
London Symphony Orchestra/Nagano; Gidon Kremer, violin
Violin Concerto / Shaker Loops
Nonesuch 79360
11:31