Your Top Violin Concertos!

[PSmith08]

This is in E major, not E minor.

So it is, which I why I used the BWV number - that way I can always be right, even when I'm wrong.

[m_gigena]

Am I the only one that votes for Wolf-Ferrari's violin concerto?

[Steve]

Am I the only one that votes for Wolf-Ferrari's violin concerto?

Yes. 

[Christo]

Am I the only one that votes for Wolf-Ferrari's violin concerto?

No!

[m_gigena]

No!

Thanks. Bustabo or Hoelscher?

[Christo]

Thanks. Bustabo or Hoelscher?

I have only one option: Ulf Hoelscher (the CPO CD with Alun Francis conducting the RSO Frankfurt) - because I don't own/know the other one.

And what about some of the other concertos by Wolf-Ferrari, like the Cello Concerto (CPO, same forces, with Gustav Rivinius, Cello, or some of the other ones? I always had a particular liking for the Idillio Concertino (1932) for Oboe and Strings and the English Horn Concertino (1947) - with their strong 'Indian Summer' feeling, at least for me.

[Harry Collier]

I have only one option: Ulf Hoelscher (the CPO CD with Alun Francis conducting the RSO Frankfurt) - because I don't own/know the other one.

Well, I don't know the Hoelscher. But I do know the Bustabo. My advice is: neither! Not surprisingly this concerto has dropped out of the everyday reperoire.

[Christo]

Not surprisingly this concerto has dropped out of the everyday reperoire.

That negative point is always easily made. And quite often,  indeed, with regard to Wolf-Ferrari. Well, I hardly know the Violin Concerto - indeed I'm listening to a few parts of it now for probably the second time in my life. But I do know some of his other pieces. And what often pleases is me in them, is a gentle kind of lyricism, as in the two Oboe concertos I mentioned.

Some of their naivité is certainly to be found in the VC too. As it happens to be a WWII composition, and also a rather late one (WF was almost 70 at the time) he could have done worse. I guess for him it meant some sort of consolation.

[Rabin_Fan]

How about the Othmar Schoek VC played by Boller on Claves?

[m_gigena]

Well, I don't know the Hoelscher. But I do know the Bustabo. My advice is: neither! Not surprisingly this concerto has dropped out of the everyday reperoire.

Despite the low audio quality, I prefer the Bustabo. She plays the work a bit faster (34 minutes, against Hoelscher's 38) and makes a huge difference; on the last movement and cadenzas mostly.

[Christo]

This is what Harry wrote today, in another ('What Are You Listening To') tread:

Well my opponents on this forum will say, O, Harry he likes all music, and is uncritical.
I know that, and it does not bother me at all. For I and others on this board, and outside know, that's not true. The musical qualities of Wolf Ferrari are topnotch. His Violin concerto and Cello Concerto are to my ears of outstanding quality, and satisfy my notion of musical quality. Not to mention Sinfonia Brevis, a most outstanding work, and the fine Chamber music.

[m_gigena]

His Violin concerto and Cello Concerto are to my ears of outstanding quality, and satisfy my notion of musical quality. Not to mention Sinfonia Brevis, a most outstanding work, and the fine Chamber music.

I never heard his cello concerto. But what he writes for the violin is impressive, using the whole range, differentiating strings and registers, the concerto is full of double stops (both melodic and harmonic). Mrs Bustabo spiccato through the last movement is fantastic. Reaching it's peak with the final double stops and glissando.

[ChamberNut]

My favorite 5 violin concertos:

1- Beethoven
2- Tchaikovsky
3- Brahms
4- Mozart # 4
5- Mendelssohn

Also Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Brahms' Double Concerto, Mozart's # 3 and # 5.  I only wish Mozart had continued writing more violin concerti into his mature years, I bet you they would have been fabulous! 

I haven't yet had a good full listen to the famous Sibelius' concerto, or Dvorak's.

[The new erato]

My top 5:

Shostakovich 2
Brahms
Beethoven
Bartok 2
Tischenko 2

[longears]

Brahms, Sibelius, Prokofiev (both), Barber, Adams (both), Glass (yes, Glass!), Schuman (Wm., not Bobby with nn), Bartok 2, Beethoven, BWV1041-2-3 & -60, Korngold, Mendelssohn, Dvorák, Stravinsky, and this reminds me it's past time to listen again to Shosty's & Piston's...and we mustn't forget Vivaldi's 4 seasons.

[op.110]

Top VC not in any particular order, except for Brahms and Beethoven, which are my absolute favorite
Brahms
Beethoven
Tchaikovsky
Mendelssohn
Bruch
Dvorak
Sibelius

others I thoroughly enjoy
Bach double
Winter Spring Summer and Fall
Symphonie Espagnole

VC i don't care for
Glazunov

[Mirror Image]

I have many, many favorites but here are ten that really stand out to me:

1. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
2. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1
3. Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
4. Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2
5. Berg: Violin Concerto
6. Barber: Violin Concerto
7. Ligeti: Violin Concerto
8. Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1
9. Lindberg: Violin Concerto
10. Britten: Violin Concerto

[Bulldog]

I have many, many favorites but here are ten that really stand out to me:

1. Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
2. Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1
3. Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
4. Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2
5. Berg: Violin Concerto
6. Barber: Violin Concerto
7. Ligeti: Violin Concerto
8. Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1
9. Lindberg: Violin Concerto
10. Britten: Violin Concerto

Do you have something against the most popular violin concertos?  Just asking.

[Mirror Image]

Do you have something against the most popular violin concertos?  Just asking.

I like concertos that are out-of-the-norm just like I like composers that are out-of-the-norm. I think a lot of it is whether I'm attracted to the musical language or not and whether I get some emotional gratification out of it.

[The new erato]

I like concertos that are out-of-the-norm just like I like composers that are out-of-the-norm. I think a lot of it is whether I'm attracted to the musical language or not and whether I get some emotional gratification out of it.

Except for the Lindbergh and the Ligeti noen of those concertoes are out of the norm. In fact I consider them pretty standard fare as violin concertoes go. Though your aversion to the standard romantic (and classical) repertoire has always puzzled me. It's pretty easy to be emotionally gratified by the big boys in that area.