The 50 Greatest Violin Concertos
As a violinist, I thought I would start my music lists with the category I am the most acquainted with. Similarly, from this point of view, keep in mind there is bound to be some preferential bias towards concertos with especially notable solo parts as opposed to the work as a whole, although I will try to temper this. I will also try to bring to light some lesser known and underrated pieces. Enjoy!
50. Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53 by Antonin Dvorak
49. Violin Concerto No. 1 by Phillip Glass
48. Violin Concerto in D Minor by Robert Schumann
47. Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 6 by Niccolo Paganini
46. Violin Concerto No. 2 ‘Metamorphosen’ by Krzysztof Penderecki
45. Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, H 293 by Bohuslav Martinu
44. Violin Concerto in B Minor, Op. 61 by Edward Elgar
43. Violin Concerto, Op. 36 by Arnold Schoenberg
42. Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 53 by Ferruccio Busoni
41. Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 22 by Henryk Wieniawski
40. Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041 by Johann Sebastian Bach
39. Violin Concerto, Op. 15 by Benjamin Britten
38. Violin Concerto, Op. 24 by Miklos Rosza
37. Violin Concerto by John Adams
36. Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 7 by Niccolo Paganini
35. Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 46 by Aram Khachaturian
34. Violin Concerto by Frederick Delius
33. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 28 by Karl Goldmark
32. Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 82 by Alexander Glazunov
31. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K 218 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
30. Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 44 by Max Bruch
29. Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28 by Camille Saint-Saens
28. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77 by Dmitri Shostakovich
27. Violin Concerto by George Dyson
26. Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 61 by Karol Szymanowski
25. Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
24. The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams
23. Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 129 by Dmitri Shostakovich
22. Violin Concerto, Op. 14 by Samuel Barber
21. Poeme for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 25 by Ernst Chausson
20. Violin Concerto No. 2, BB 117 by Bela Bartok
19. Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61 by Camille Saint-Saens
18. The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
17. Violin Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 58 by Max Bruch
16. Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K 219 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
15. Violin Concerto by Alban Berg
14. Violin Concerto in D by Igor Stravinsky
13. Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 by Felix Mendelssohn
12. Violin Concerto in B Minor by William Walton
11. Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 by Ludwig Van Beethoven
10. Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 by Karol Szymanowski
One of the first modern atonal concertos, this work by the Polish New Wave composer Szymanowski was a revolutionary work. While it rejects the formulas of the romantic concertos that preceded it, it lacks none of emotion or intensity and is surprisingly accessible.
Here’s a great performance by soloist So-Ock Kim conducted by Penderecki.
9. Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 30 by Moritz Moszkowski
Moszkowski is not nearly as famous as most of the other composer’s whose works are in this list, so it’s no surprise that this great concerto is often forgotten. It’s scope and fine craftmanship, however, warrant it to be in the same conversation as the other great romantic concertos. The violin part is demanding, but always for the sake of the music, and is balanced against a large orchestral score.
Here’s a video with the violin part.
8. Violin Concerto No. 2 in in G Minor, Op. 63 by Sergei Prokofiev
Although more conventional than his first concerto, it’s just as exciting. The first movement draws heavily on Russian folk themes and features imaginative orchestral textures. The second movement is a more traditional, but incredibly beautiful andante. The finale is a lively marcato that is really one of a kind.
Here’s David Oistrakh playing the concerto.
7. Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
One of Mozart’s most recognizable pieces, this joyful piece was written when the composer was only 19 years old. The violin part is not particularly challenging, but that doesn’t mean that the piece in not complex. Mozart bounces the themes around the orchestra and across keys masterfully, packing in much more than initially meets the eye.
Here’s Itzhak Perlman playing the concerto.
6. Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 by Johannes Brahms
Another huge entry in the genre, Brahms’s concerto has it all: soaring themes, devilishly tricky passages and a daunting scale. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, the concerto starts with a grand, complex fashion in full sonata form. The second movement is a beautiful adagio and the third a fierce rondo. The greatest aspect of this concerto is not the violin part, however, but the tremendous orchestral score, that does much more than just accompany the soloist.
Here is Janine Jansen playing the concerto
5. Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
This Violin concerto, Korngold’s most famous concert piece by far, is derived from themes in his film scores of early Hollywood. Due to the various influences, the concerto is extremely colorful with diverse themes, as well as an unusually large and creative orchestral part. The lyrical first movement is especially a unique a memorable treat.
Here is Hilary Hahn playing the concerto.
4. Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043 by Johann Sebastian Bach
The only double violin concerto on this list, and one of the only Baroque pieces, Bach’s double concerto is in a category of it’s own. Not as flashy or epic as most of the other concertos on this list, the genius of this concerto lies in the relationship between the two soloists. It’s simple yet brilliant in a way only Bach could design.
Here are Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh playing the concerto.
3. Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 by Max Bruch
One of the most performed concertos for a reason, Bruch’s first crack at the form is a brilliantly lyrical work packed with all the excitement and drama expected of a seminal romantic concerto. The first movement, a Vorspiel, or prelude, bookends with climbing virtuosic before leading directly into the incredibly powerful second movement. The third movement then kicks off full of energy, featuring a towering theme and builds to a fiery end.
Here’s Heifetz playing the concerto.
2. Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19 by Sergei Prokofiev
Prokofiev’s first violin concerto was written in one of his greatest creative periods, debuting the same year as his celebrated ‘Classical’ symphony. It is a very atmospheric, almost mystical sounding piece, which is apparent from the very beginning. The first movement is the most complex movement, switching through several tempos and time signatures. The second movement is atypically a scherzo, and a bruising one at that. The third movement starts with a dreamy march before unraveling into a more chaotic form, and then finally returning to a mystical ending, with the violin and orchestra fading out.
Here’s the concerto played by the great Russian violinist David Oistrakh.
1. Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius
In my opinion the greatest violin concerto of all time. The violin part is as beautiful as it is challenging and Sibelius perfectly balances it with a lush orchestral accompaniment. The first movement is a sweeping epic with huge symphonic climaxes interspersed with exposed solo passages. The second movement is one of the most beautiful slow movement of any violin concerto, building to an intense conclusion. Then it jumps into one of the most electric finales in all of the repertoire.
Here’s Sara Chang playing it.
For more music lists click here.
Feel free to comment below or message author at artglut@gmail.com