Brahms - Violin Concerto in D Major
November 24, 2019
Daniel Kim, a student of Desirée Ruhstrat and winner in the Bienen School’s 2018-2019 Concerto/Aria Competition, performs Johannes Brahms’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 with Philharmonia. Robert G. Hasty conducts Philharmonia, which includes music majors and nonmajors.
Allegro non troppo
Adagio
Allegro giocoso; ma non troppo vivace
One of the greatest works for violin of all time, Brahms' 1878 concerto was composed for his close friend, violinist Joseph Joachim. One of the great romantic composers, Brahms became known for a compositional style in which soloist and orchestra are treated as equals, rather than the orchestra serving as a backdrop for the soloist. His Violin Concerto in D Major is no exception and this style is seen throughout all three movements of the piece. At its debut in Leipzig in 1879, the reception was lukewarm at best, with many violinists calling the piece “unplayable”. However, with additional editing by his friend Joachim, Brahms’ Violin Concerto has become a staple of many internationally famous violinists such as Jascha Heifetz, Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn, and Ray Chen.