Concert for violin and orchestra (Dvorak)

Dvořák composed the violin concert by order of the publisher Simrock, and the performer of the world premiere was supposed to be one of the most famous violinists then, founder and director of the Berlin Higher School of Music, Joseph Joachim. The musicians met in early April 1879 during a visit to Berlin by the composer. Joachim, however, became interested in the work of Dvorak even earlier with his friend Johannes Brahms. Later, with his quartet (and two more violinists), he performed the Smychk Sextet in A Major at the world premiere of Dvorak, then he performed it during his visit to London, and often performed other chamber works of Dvorak at concerts of the quartet. The genesis of the violin concert by the standards of Dvorak was quite long and complex and can be divided into four phases:

I. July - September 1879.

Dvořák created the first version of the concert during his stay with a friend of Goble in the city of Sikhrov. This initial version basically had the same thematic material as the final, but the arrangement was significantly different. The initial draft, dated 5–13.7, took the composer with him to Berlin at the end of July, where, in honor of Dvorak, Joachim arranged a gala dinner. In the course of August and September, Dvorak made the changes recommended by Joachim, and in November the concert sent Joachim for viewing. On the first page there was an inscription written by Dvorak: "Dedicated to the great maestro Joseph Joachim." In a cover letter, Dvořák asks Joachim “to express his unvarnished opinion”. Joachim apologized for his busyness, but promised as soon as possible the work of Dvorak “con amore” to view.

II. April - May 1880.

Since then, no correspondence between the two musicians has been preserved, so it is impossible to say whether there were any written comments by Joachim on the concert or not. However, verbal comments were made at the turn of March and April 1880, when Dvorak visited Joachim in Berlin. It can be assumed that the maestro's assessment was not positive, because after this consultation, Dvorak began to fundamentally revise the entire concert. The score of the new version, signed by the “new version”, Dvorak again sent Joachim. The answer, however, received only two years later.

III. August - October 1882

In August 1882, Dvořák received a new letter from Joachim in which the maestro gave a detailed assessment of the work and at the same time proposed some changes, mainly solo parts, for more convenient performance and to reduce the density of instrumentation. Dvorak fulfilled these requirements and, at the invitation of Joachim, arrived in Berlin in September to rehearse the concert together. With great relief, the composer writes to his publisher Simrok: “I played a violin concert with Joachim twice, he really liked and also liked Mr. Keller, who was present at the rehearsal. I am very glad that finally this story will end. The processing lay with Joachim for two whole years! He was so kind that he corrected the part of the violin, there was only something left to change in the finale and in some places to soften the instrumentation. In early November I have to go to Berlin again, before that time everything will be ready and Joachim will arrange an orchestra rehearsal at the Berlin Higher School of Music ”

IV. December 1882

While work on the concert was over with Joachim, new changes to the score before publication were required by Simrok's consultant Robert Keller. He suggested that the first two parts be not connected by attacca, but should be completely separated. The next sentence concerned the third part, so that it would be substantially shortened. While the last proposal, Dvorak partially accepted, and in the Final held two major reductions, he insisted on the connection of the first two parts. In this he was supported by Pablo de Sarasata and Simrok himself, who, in the end, accepted this version of the work for publication.

1. Allegro ma non troppo (att.)
2. Adagio ma non troppo
3. Finale. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo

• 2 flutes
• 2 oboes
• 2 clarinets
• 2 bassoons
• 4 horns
• 2 pipes
• tympans
• violins
• violas
• cello
• double basses
• violin - solo

Duration - 31 minutes.

Despite the fact that the work was dedicated to Joseph Joachim, who even took an active part in its creation, and Dvořák confidently assumed that it was Joachim who would be his first performer, the famous violinist never performed the concert. The writing of the concert lasted for four years and during this time Joachim probably lost interest in him. By that time, Joachim had already become a famous conductor, composer, head of a higher music school, but no longer a concert violinist, who he was four years ago.

Fortunately, Dvorak found another adequate performer for the premiere of the concert. He became a young Czech violin virtuoso Frantisek Ondricek. After studying in Prague and in Paris, he lit up his performances throughout Europe, later in Russia and the United States, and soon became one of the most famous performers of his time. Dvořák considered it his duty to learn a new work, and during September and October 1883 he regularly visited Dvořák in order to work out some details in his presence. The premiere of the concert, which was the beginning of Ondrichka’s big tour of Europe, took place on October 14, 1883 in the Prague Rudolfinum Concert Hall. And later, Ondricek constantly included the concert in his repertoire, which helped his rapid dissemination in world music centers. The performance of the concert by Joseph Suk, Salvatoro Accardo and David Oistrakh also played a significant role.