Jean Sibelius’s 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.
And — in my view — this is not a surprise! The composer was a violinist earlier in his career. He needed no assistance from others to compose the type of sounds and the emotional content that would please the listener.
Sibelius started to plan his violin concerto as early as 1899, and he had to deal with several personal issues before he even started. He wanted to become a member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, but he did not succeed in his audition.
It is tempting, then, to imagine that all sorts of personal issues sublimated in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. Certainly inner demons were at play when he wrote it. In 1903 Sibelius was a celebrity in Finland and beginning to be known throughout Europe. He was also drinking heavily and living far beyond his means.
One of his strongest supporters at the time was the violinist Willy Burmester, who was eager to play the new concerto on which Sibelius was working. The composer readily promised the premiere to Burmester. He then made a sudden, unexplained, and seemingly self-destructive change, entrusting the 1904 Helsinki premiere instead to one Viktor Nováček.
Now, so many years later, we have a fine soloist to play this amazing music for you. Here is violinist Hilary Hahn in a terrific performance:
