The violin concerto

(Violin concerto in D major, op. 61)

In three movements:
  1. Allegro ma non troppo
  2. Larghetto
  3. Rondo: allegro
The bulk of the concerto is in the first movement, which opens with haunting notes on the timpani. The cadenza (towards the end of the first movement) is long and involved. I must admit that on first hearing it, I did wonder if perhaps it wasn't overly so.

The last two movements lack the weight of the first, but the second is definitely very beautiful.

The violin concerto was composed in 1806. Its first performance had Franz Clement play the solo part. He didn't have much (if any) chance to rehearse, and the first performance was not particularly well received. I can see definite links (similarities) between this concerto and Brahms's.

Michael Norrish <mn200@cl.cam.ac.uk>
Last modified: Fri Nov 4 12:01:23 1994