Bartók emigrated to the United States in 1940 to escape the worsening political situation in Hungary and his strong condemnation of fascism.
Instruments
Benjamin Schmid performs on an 'ex Viotti 1718' Stradivarius violin, provided by the Austrian National Bank.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The opening motive of Bartók's First Violin Concerto, D-F-sharp-A-C-sharp, represented his 'love motive' and was also used in his 14 Bagatelles for piano.
Performer Biography
Benjamin Schmid, the violinist on this recording, won the Carl Flesch Competition in London in 1992, receiving the Mozart, Beethoven, and Audience Prizes.
Compositional Technique
The Second Violin Concerto incorporates twelve-tone motives and quarter tones in the solo part, despite its classical sonata form.
Composition History
Béla Bartók's First Violin Concerto was written between 1907 and 1908 but premiered posthumously in 1958 due to personal reasons.
Composer Biography
Bartók composed his First Violin Concerto for violinist Stefi Geyer, with whom he was in love, and gave her the manuscript.
You might also enjoy...
Bartók: Violin Concerto No.2, Sz 112 / Moret: En rêve
John Adams: Violin Concerto
Chin: Violin Concerto No. 1
Barber: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14
Guy Braunstein: Abbey Road Concerto (EP)
Rochberg: Violin Concerto
Khachaturian: Violin Concerto & Concerto Rhapsody
Ades: Violin Concerto
American Classics: William Schuman
John Williams: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Shapira: Concierto Latino
Bartók: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2
Khachaturian, A.I.: Violin Concerto / Concerto-Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra
