Sir Edward Elgar's Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61, is one of his longest orchestral works and has been described as "the greatest English contribution to the treasury of Romantic violin concertos".
The Royal Philharmonic Society of London commissioned the concerto in 1909, when Elgar was at the height of his fame. It is dedicated to the Austrian virtuoso Fritz Kreisler who was the soloist at the first performance which took place on 10 Novemb...
more
Sir Edward Elgar's Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61, is one of his longest orchestral works and has been described as "the greatest English contribution to the treasury of Romantic violin concertos".
The Royal Philharmonic Society of London commissioned the concerto in 1909, when Elgar was at the height of his fame. It is dedicated to the Austrian virtuoso Fritz Kreisler who was the soloist at the first performance which took place on 10 November 1910.
Elgar himself was a violinist, but he also called upon his friend W. H. "Billy" Reed, leader of the London Symphony Orchestra for technical advice while writing the concerto, and Kreisler may also have made some influential suggestions.
The première of the concerto was Elgar's last great popular success. Of his later large-scale works neither the Second Symphony nor Falstaff nor the Cello Concerto achieved the immediate popularity of the First Symphony or this concerto.
The score carries the Spanish inscription, "Aqui está encerrada...
less
