Violin Concertos

It was Brahms who felt the critical eyes of Beethoven behind his back, and was paralysed for years, composing and throwing away dozens of scores for a violin concerto. Before Beethoven's "Violin Concerto", it was customary to write violin concertos in dozens or half dozens, and it did not need a virtuoso to play them. So there is before and after Beethoven. Before, there was elegance and symetry, and you did not need to concentrate. The music was played as background for chatting parties, patrons, or noisy Café or concert hall audiences, who would live with it, and enjoy it, or do without it, and still find other composers to fill in the vacuum. After Beethoven, demands are heavier on the composer, on the performer, and on the audience. The reward is much bigger, and the work is substantial, has lots to give, demands your full attention, and it will not bore you after 2 or 3 times of serious listening. Some violin concertos, also after Beethoven, like e.g. Mendelssohn's, are great works, both elegant and very popular, because they are easily accessible. However, it takes lots of time to acclimatize oneself to Alban Berg's or Bartok's violin concertos. One of my favourite violin concertos, after Beethoven's, is Prokofiev's number 2, a work so profound and jocular at the same time, both so modern yet so classical in its composition. The next, is that of Glazunov. Listen and see how much he owes to his teacher, Rimsky-Korsakov, the composer of "Scheherazad". And I would play Bach's "Chaconne", or Ravel's "Tzigane", at any time of the day. BTW, I proudly tell you, I have had many hours Violin lessons, both at school, and in private, that is ages ago. from very very very patient teachers. Never advancing to the second or third lesson,. Kept coming back until they got tired of me, for not having been seriously practicing at home. Well, I did my best, honest! Tried, 3 or 5 minutes, each time, and was disappointed for not playing like a virtuoso. So this is my revenge, and a tribute to each one of those wonderful teachers, some of whom are now old friends! I hope you will find your favourite violin concerto, or your favourite performer or version in this playlist. For other performances of Beethoven's Violin Concerto, see my playlist "Beethoven IV: - The Violin Sonatas & the Violin Concerto". Ask my devoted butlers for any drink you might fancy! They sure would do their best to make you feel comfortable, while enjoying the music! .