Edward Elgar wrote his Violin Concerto in B-Minor in 1910.
It was one of his last works to gain immediate popular success. Fritz Kreisler was the soloist at the premier in London. It was Elgar himself who conducted the famous recording still available with a 16 year old Yehudi Menuhin as soloist just two years before the composer’s death in 1934.
The composer was so impressed with Menuhin that soon after the rehearsal started he declared that things are going so well, that Elgar is leaving to attend the horse races…
The emotional core of this big, nearly 50 minute long concerto is thought to be an expression of love between the composer and Alice Stuart Wortly, a close friend of the Elgar family.
It has also been suggested by biographers that each of the three movements of the concerto is inspired by different people close to Elgar. Whatever the case, there’s lots of love to go around in this heartfelt work from my favorite British composer.
Here is violinist Renaud Capucon who will play this music for you:
