| Violin Concerto | |
|---|---|
| byAntonín Dvořák | |
 First page of autograph manuscript | |
| Key | A minor |
| Opus | 53 |
| Period | Romantic |
| Composed | 1879 (1879) |
| Movements | 3 |
| Scoring | Violin and orchestra |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 1883 (1883) |
| Location | Prague |
TheViolin Concerto in A minor,Op. 53 (B. 96 / B. 108), is aviolin concerto composed byAntonín Dvořák in 1879. It was premiered in Prague on 14 October 1883.
Dvořák was encouraged to write a violin concerto by his publisherSimrock, after compositions such asSlavonic Dances and hisSymphony No. 6 had been successful.[1] The composer sought advice from the violinistJoseph Joachim, the director of theMusikhochschule Berlin, who had played his chamber music in concerts, including the world premiere of hisString Sextet in A major. Dvořák composed the work with the intention of dedicating it to him, and hoped for a premiere played by Joachim.[1]
Dvořák composed a first sketch in July 1879 that already contained thethemes of the final version. He took it to Berlin at the end of the month where Joachim had staged a gala evening in his honour. Joachim recommended formal changes which Dvořák made over the following two months. In November he mailed the work to Joachim with a dedication on the title page: "I dedicate this work to the great Maestro Jos. Joachim, with the deepest respect, Ant. Dvořák." He requested Joachim's opinion, and the violinist replied that he was busy but would look into it as soon as possible.[1]
No written reply from Joachim has survived, but Dvořák visited Joachim in Berlin in the spring of 1880. After the consultation, the composer rewrote the concerto between April and May.[1] Joachim, a strict classicist, may have objected to the abrupt truncation of the first movement's orchestral tutti, the short recapitulation, and the persistent repetition found in the third movement. Dvořák sent the new version to Joachim for inspection, but had to wait more than two years for an answer.[1]
The violin concerto was premiered in Prague on 14 October 1883[1] byFrantišek Ondříček,[2][3][4] who also gave the Vienna and London premieres. The concerto was first performed in theUnited States on 30 October 1891, at theAuditorium Theatre in Chicago.Max Bendix was soloist with theChicago Orchestra led byTheodore Thomas.[5] The concerto remains an important work in the violin repertoire.[6]
The concerto is scored for solo violin and an orchestra consisting of 2flutes, 2oboes, 2clarinets (in A), 2bassoons, 4horns, 2trumpets,timpani, andstrings.[7][8]
The structure of the concerto is the classical three movements, fast–slow–fast.
The first movement and the second movement are interconnected (attacca subito).[8]
