Violin Concerto (Glazunov)
Encyclopedia
The Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82, by Alexander Glazunov
is one of his most popular compositions. Written in 1904, the concerto was dedicated to violinist Leopold Auer
, who gave the first performance at a Russian Musical Society
concert in St. Petersburg
on February 15, 1905. The British premiere of the concerto followed just over a year later, under the direction of Sir Henry Wood
and with Mischa Elman as soloist.
The violin concerto is quite representative of Glazunov's technically brilliant style. The work contains three movements.
The slow second movement is seamlessly inserted by the composer into the middle of the first movement, which is an original and rare structural peculiarity of this composition.
The main cadenza at the end of the second movement was composed by Glazunov himself. It utilizes extensive double-stopping technique and is considered one of the hardest parts of the concerto.
The concerto is written as a single continuous 21-minute-long piece and is performed without any pauses between movements.
Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor...
is one of his most popular compositions. Written in 1904, the concerto was dedicated to violinist Leopold Auer
Leopold Auer
Leopold Auer was a Hungarian violinist, teacher, conductor and composer.-Early life and career:...
, who gave the first performance at a Russian Musical Society
Russian Musical Society
The Russian Musical Society was an organisation founded in 1859 by the Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna and her protégé, pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein, with the intent of raising the standard of music in the country and disseminating musical education.Rubinstein and the Grand Duchess's...
concert in St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
on February 15, 1905. The British premiere of the concerto followed just over a year later, under the direction of Sir Henry Wood
Henry Wood
Henry Wood was a British conductor.Henry Wood may also refer to:* Henry C. Wood , American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient* Henry Wood , English cricketer...
and with Mischa Elman as soloist.
The violin concerto is quite representative of Glazunov's technically brilliant style. The work contains three movements.
- Moderato
- Andante sostenuto
- Allegro
The slow second movement is seamlessly inserted by the composer into the middle of the first movement, which is an original and rare structural peculiarity of this composition.
The main cadenza at the end of the second movement was composed by Glazunov himself. It utilizes extensive double-stopping technique and is considered one of the hardest parts of the concerto.
The concerto is written as a single continuous 21-minute-long piece and is performed without any pauses between movements.