Solo with String Orchestra Recommendations

Edited: June 30, 2023, 11:51 AM · Hey everyone,

I am at a music festival and have the opportunity to compete to play a solo with a string orchestra in about 2 weeks. It can be something easy / standard, like Vivaldi's four seasons or Meditation from Thais, etc. - so I was wondering if you all had any recommendations for something fun and easy that I could play for the competition (and learn in two weeks...as far as my level goes, I've just performed the Carmen Fantasy by Sarasate...)?

I've thought about Salut d'Amore, Vivaldi, etc...it just has to be something that has a string orchestra accompaniment arrangement available. I'd love to play something fun and flashy, but again I only have 2 weeks, and I'd like to do something low-stress. :)

Let me know if y'all have any suggestions!

Thanks!

Replies (3)

elise stanley

June 30, 2023, 12:05 PM · Haydn concerto in G. Fast learn, fun to play - but do the slow movement too if you can.

Mary Ellen Goree

June 30, 2023, 4:42 PM · https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerto_for_Violin_and_Strings_(Mendelssohn)

Albrecht Zumbrunn

Edited: June 30, 2023, 7:08 PM · I agree with both of those.

Mendelssohn was published by Menuhin many years ago. He "upgraded" the last movement to make it sufficiently virtuosic (for himself I suppose). The autograph is on IMSLP. Somebody made an effort to also post a typeset score and set of parts, so you could play the "urtext" and get the parts for free. If Menuhin's "upgrade" is an improvement or not is a matter of taste, personally I find the more modest original version more appealing.

As to Haydn: I agree: Do play the adagio!

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