V.com weekend vote: Which is your favorite Mozart violin concerto?

October 1, 2010 at 10:41 PM

Over the course of two days last week, I heard five performances of Mozart violin concerti at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.

For the classical finals, contestants could choose a Mozart or Haydn concerto, and five of six finalists chose to play Mozart. Of those, only two concerti were represented: Concerto No. 3 in G and Concerto No. 5 in A.

The most-often played Mozart concerto are the last three: Concertos No. 3, 4, and 5. The first two are played and studied less often. Personally, I play the last three, and it's hard to pick favorites!

I was relieved to discover that people seem to be taking that unnecessary, not-in-the-urtext ricochet bowing out of the first movement (m. 64) of the G major. Not one performer did it! Yay! That bowing basically ruined that concerto for me because it was on the first page, and it never went well during auditions.

The D major No. 4 concerto has a wonderfully bouncy feel, but then who can argue with that opening of the A major concerto, which is a perfectly-composed, miniature love story to violin sound.

Which do you like best, and why?

From Malcolm Turner
Posted on October 1, 2010 at 11:06 PM

I fell in love with No. 2 when I was asked to perform a concerto with our local orchestra a lot of years ago. I decided I didn't want to compete with all the world's top soloists and picked one of the lesser-know ones. No 1 sort of felt awkward and didn't appeal, but No2 has everything - and doesn't have the danger points like No4 for instance. I used it (No 4) once as an audition piece - if you get past the first two lines you're o.k., but with audition nerves - forget it!

From John Soloninka
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 12:24 AM

When I was a kid I had Menuhin playing the Concerto #6 ostensibly by Mozart. I think its a great piece, regardless of whether it was in fact Mozart.

From elise stanley
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 12:58 AM

I swear teh discussion topic I just started about playing Mozart was a coincidence to this weekend questionaire! But how timely. Now I really have to dig out these performances for a spectrum of approaches...

From Anne Horvath
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 3:51 AM

I adore #3, #4, and #5, but the Sinfonia concertante is my favorite. (Smile)

From Yixi Zhang
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 5:05 AM

Oooh, Sinfonia concertante, mmmmwa!!

From Margaret Lee
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 5:58 AM

My sister and I did our ballet and gymnastics to Mozart #3 (on the record player). (Surprised we didn't wreck the needle.) I loved the piece. Don't know if I chose to play violin b/c of it. i might not have known it was a violin concerto then.

From elise stanley
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 10:48 AM

Anne: but the Sinfonia concertante is my favorite

Well, you just opened my eyes! I never heard this before - there is a beautiful verson by Vengerov and Power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4vTCcjOME&feature=related

I have to try that one day... thankyou!

From Corwin Slack
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 10:51 AM

They are all great but my first ever violin concerto recording was Heifetz and Malcom Sargent doing No. 4. My favorite recording of any concerto by any performer of all time is Kreisler performing No. 4.

From Luis Pernalete
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 6:34 PM

Hi, off course the #1, no one most demanding in all aspect. Congrats Laurie, amazing work in Indianapolis, excellent competition.

From Anthony Barletta
Posted on October 3, 2010 at 5:51 PM

I agree 100% with Anne. :)

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.