Top 10 Favorite VCs

[Ken B]

I like LvB's concerto, and easily. I don't know what's wrong with you other people.

Ravel poisoning.

[North Star]

Ravel poisoning.

You meant some other poisoning, with Ravel being the antidote, of course.

[Ken B]

You meant some other poisoning, with Ravel being the antidote, of course.

If Ravel cures Boulez poisoning, then play on Maurice! 

[jochanaan]

I feel exactly the opposite. B's VC is a gorgeous creation, but it might not give up its secrets easily. Rather paradoxically there's a certain restraint that's required to make the work sing, to come alive (for me, anyway). Barnstorming the work into being only diminishes its impact. If ever there were a B piece that needed to sing like a country song, the VC is it.

Did I just read "Beethoven" and "country song" in the same sentence? Actually, though, I do get what you're saying.  Yes, at least the first two movements of this concerto benefit from restraint and taking time.  However, I tend to think that most of the performers I've heard play this concerto take the last movement a little too slowly and reverently.  It could do with some of the fire that players often bring to other Beethoven works.

[Wanderer]

I like LvB's concerto, and easily. I don't know what's wrong with you other people.

+2

I tend to think that most of the performers I've heard play this concerto take the last movement a little too slowly and reverently.  It could do with some of the fire that players often bring to other Beethoven works.

My sentiments exactly.

[EigenUser]

What about the Ades? I mean, I wouldn't say he's in my top ten, but his VC is really impressive. The opening reminds me of the opening of Ligeti's, but the rest of it is in Ades' voice.

[Mr Bloom]

Dean : the lost art of letter-writing
Szymanowski : 2
Bartok : 2
Schnittke : 4
Schoenberg
Shostakovich : 1
Britten
Bacewicz : 7
Jolivet
Henze : 2

[EigenUser]

Dean : the lost art of letter-writing
Szymanowski : 2
Bartok : 2
Schnittke : 4
Schoenberg
Shostakovich : 1
Britten
Bacewicz : 7
Jolivet
Henze : 2

Woah, Henze 2? That's the crazy one with baritone and electronics ! It's nice to see some unsung choices.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Beethoven
Brahms
Sibelius
Tchaikovsky
Korngold
Shostakovich 1 (that passacaglia!)
Dvorak
Mendelssohn (E minor)
Saint-Saëns 3
Schumann

[TheGSMoeller]

Britten
Vasks "Distant Light"
Bruch No.1
Bruch "Scottish Fantasy"
Vivaldi "Four Seasons: Winter"
Glass No.1
Respighi Concerto Gregoriano
Elgar
Weill "Concerto for Violin and Wind Band"
RVW The Lark Ascending  (not labeled a VC, but more lovely than most music written for solo violin, and also can't think of another VC I would rather listen to)

Looking back at two years ago and I'm embarrassed I didn't add Brahms. And now I prefer Glass' 2nd VC.

[Jo498]

Brahms
Mendelssohn e minor
Bach E major
Shostakovich #1
Beethoven
Bartok
Prokofieff #1
Mozart #3
Saint Saens #3
Szymanowski (can't decide which, as they are on the same disc they run into one in my mind)

[amw]

Bach E major
Bach A minor
Bach 2 violin concerto
Mendelssohn
Dvořák
Чайковский
Barber
Prokofiev G minor
Feldman
Someotherone

Someotherone is now replaced with Taneyev's Suite de Concert. I'll also probably replace the Bach E major with the Bach D minor (after the harpsichord concerto, which in turn was probably after a now-lost violin concerto).

There is a fine second tier of Schumann, Britten, Dutilleux, Beethoven and Brahms, none of which are real favourites (or have had a very significant effect on me—e.g. I rarely if ever listen to the Barber concerto anymore, but I listened to it obsessively at one point, and the first movement is still my #1 most-ever-played track, so I still list it as a favourite) but which may become someday. In some cases reaching this second tier required finding the right interpreter (in this case Isabelle Faust for Schumann & Brahms, and Daniel Hope for Britten), the works previously being kinda 'meh'

[Mirror Image]

I'll definitely participate in this poll.

In no particular order:

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
Barber: Violin Concerto
Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2
Berg: Violin Concerto
Britten: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1
Linde: Violin Concerto
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
Hartmann: Concerto funebre
Respighi: Concerto Gregoriano

It's time to change some things (in no particular order):

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2
Barber: Violin Concerto
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Elgar: Violin Concerto
Berg: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1
Hartmann: Concerto funebre
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1

[The new erato]

It's time to change some things (in no particular order):

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2
Barber: Violin Concerto
Stravinsky: Violin Concerto
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Elgar: Violin Concerto
Berg: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1
Hartmann: Concerto funebre
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1

Except for you omitting Brahms (the finest violin concerto there is) and Beethoven (a rather oddball, but still very beautiful concerto) I'm very onboard with this list.

Have you heard Tischenko's 2nd? I think you will be floored by it.

[Mirror Image]

Except for you omitting Brahms (the finest violin concerto there is) and Beethoven (a rather oddball, but still very beautiful concerto) I'm very onboard with this list.

Have you heard Tischenko's 2nd? I think you will be floored by it.

Well, the keyword to this list is 'favorite' not 'greatest'. I don't believe I've heard Tischenko's Violin Concerto No. 2. I may have a recording of it. I'll have to check.

[Brian]

Bach E major, and for two violins
Barber
Dvorak
Martinu 2, and for two violins
Mozart #3
Sibelius
Tchaikovsky
Wieniawski #2

Over a year later, the only change here is adding Brahms instead of Martinu 2. Prokofiev 2 is a contender. Unlike Greg, I still prefer Glass 1 to Glass 2.

[Brahmsian]

This is tough!  In alphabetical order:

Beethoven
Brahms
Glazunov
Korngold
Mozart 5
Schumann
Shostakovich 1
Sibelius
Stravinsky
Tchaikovsky

[Brahmsian]

Glazunov

Hmm, am I the only one who has mentioned/likes Glazunov's? 

[The new erato]

Well, the keyword to this list is 'favorite' not 'greatest'. I don't believe I've heard Tischenko's Violin Concerto No. 2. I may have a recording of it. I'll have to check.

Not saying that you should change your likes. Just that I basically agree with you, aside from a few glaring omissions. I would add Milhaud's small and wonderfully lovable no 2 as well. Of course we're now moving into bakers dozen territory.

[The new erato]

Hmm, am I the only one who has mentioned/likes Glazunov's? 

His best work IMO and very fine, but not top ten territory for me.