Mozart composed the violin concerto #3 at age 19, and it has three movements, with a brief pause between each. Each movement is a different tempo and is meant to show off the virtuosity and skill of the violin soloist.
An accomplished violinist himself, Mozart’s attention to intricacy and his concern for the role of the orchestra are the most important features of the work. Overall, the orchestra’s sound is light, while the soloist’s is incredibly ornate. Mozart intentionally composed it this way to highlight the technical skill of the soloist.
At the end of each movement, there are complicated and impressive cadenzas by the violinist. The second movement features a slow tempo and quiet, muted strings to highlight the beauty of the solo violin line.
The final movement is dance-like and uses a simple orchestration featuring brief solos by other instruments.
Here is Hilary Hahn in a truly excellent performance:
