2nd violin concerto (Prokofiev)

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The 2nd Violin Concerto in G minor, op. 63 is a violin concerto by the Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev .

Emergence

The violin concerto was written in the summer of 1935, some twenty years after the first . The composer's work was commissioned by French admirers of the violin virtuoso Robert Soetens . This suggested that Prokofiev write a violin concerto, the performance of which, however, should rest with Soeten for a year. Prokofiev, who was already thinking of writing another violin concerto, complied with this request. At this time the composer no longer lived in Russia, but increasingly felt the desire to return there. The violin concerto was written in accordance with Prokofiev's status as a citizen of the world in various countries during his concert tours. For example, the first movement was composed in Paris , while the main lyrical theme of the Andantes was written in Voronezh . The concert was played for the first time in Madrid , during a concert tour by Soeten.

Prokofiev decided on the classic three-movement form and designed the work according to the standards of its "new simplicity", which he had meanwhile achieved in terms of composition. The solo part is nevertheless extremely demanding and partly designed in a virtuoso manner.

To the music

Orchestral line-up

Solo violin - 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 2 horns, 2 trumpets - percussion - 1st violin , 2nd violin, viola , cello , double bass

1st movement: Allegro moderato

The main movement of the concert begins with a solo intonation of the violin, which is the main theme, which sounds like a Russian song. The violas and double basses join in with the thematic presentation before a rhythmically changed, faster interlude interrupts the presentation. These short and restless interludes keep coming back. A second thought is lyrical in nature and is introduced by strings and woodwinds before the solo violin develops its cantilena . As a result, quick, virtuoso elements alternate with thoughtful passages. The first theme continues to prevail and is processed in a variety of ways, here it increasingly takes on a joyful and erratic style. Towards the end of the movement it returns to its original dramatic form and ends the movement, accompanied by the pizzicati of the strings.

2nd movement: Andante assai - Allegretto

The Andante begins with a lyrical theme, the solo violin on the soft ground of the string pizzicati . The cantable main theme spreads out into the poignant singing of the solo instrument and achieves ever greater sublimity as it is picked up and accompanied by the whole orchestra. After it has been processed with tone repetitions and increased speed, it reappears throughout the orchestra, now accompanied by rhythmically slightly shifted chords. This is followed by the Allegretto part , which is reminiscent of the processing of the main theme in the first movement. The solo violin plays fast series of notes and tone repetitions on a mysterious sounding ground of the woodwinds. Shortly afterwards these solo runs of the violin get a broader orchestral background, which is introduced with a march-like thought by the trumpets. The return of the main lyric theme finally leads to the faint fading of the poignant movement.

3rd movement: Allegro ben marcato

The movement begins with a striking, slightly disharmonious theme of the solo violin. On a rhythmically pounding surface, she unfolds the bulky and dance-like main theme in virtuoso play. This hustle and bustle permeates the breathless movement, which most clearly corresponds to the “new simplicity” of Prokofiev's compositional style, since the harmonic and rhythmic structures of the movement appear simple and modern. The striking accompanying use of percussion instruments gives the movement a special sound.

effect

The first performance of the concert took place in Madrid in December 1935 , with the dedicatee Soeten as soloist. In contrast to the first performance of the 1st Violin Concerto, it was a great success for soloists and composers. Prokofiev, who returned to his Russian homeland shortly afterwards, was subsequently unable to defend himself against propagandistic appropriations by the Stalin regime . The Soviet music critics rated Prokofiev's turn to the solo violin and to simplicity, as a realization of the current Soviet ideal of simple and popular art. Furthermore, the work was interpreted as Prokofiev's insight into the "aimlessness of his formal experimentation". With the end of Stalin, some people in Russia began to look at the work of Prokofiev and a number of other composers who had been absorbed. The concert is now part of the standard repertoire of all violin virtuosos and is often performed all over the world. In addition to the classical violin concertos by Mozart , Beethoven and Mendelssohn and the great romantic concertos by Tchaikovsky , Brahms , Dvořák and Sibelius , Prokofiev's violin concertos, along with those by Dmitri Shostakovich , Alban Berg , Béla Bartók and Benjamin Britten, are among the most important violin concertos today.

literature

  • Hansjürgen Schaefer: concert book orchestral music PZ. VEB German publishing house for music, Leipzig 1978.
  • Harenberg concert guide. Harenberg Kommunikation, Dortmund 1998, ISBN 3-611-00535-5 .

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