Jean Sibelius’ violin concerto is the most frequently recorded and performed concerto of the violin concertos composed in the 20th century. At the start of the 21st century there were over 50 recordings available.
Sibelius started to plan his violin concerto as early as 1899. He later wrote: “I have been thinking of writing a violin concerto. If the music of the king [the King Christian II orchestral suite] goes well, I won’t give any of my old works to anyone [any publisher?] before I have thoroughly revised them…”.
Sibelius himself wrote about the following about the concerto. “I have got wonderful themes for the violin concerto…”. However, the Sibeliuses would soon move back to Helsinki. Sibelius’ work was disrupted, and alcohol became a real risk to his health over the next few years.
In the autumn of 1903 the composer announced that he would dedicate the concerto to his acquaintance, Willy Burmester, who had a successful career in Central Europe as a violin virtuoso. In December 1903 the composer was able to tell his friends that he had completed two movements of the concerto, but that the orchestration of the third movement remained to be done.
At the beginning of 1904 Sibelius was writing the concerto like a man possessed and playing the themes on his violin day and night.
Here is Joshua Bell to show us more of this amazing music:
