Martinu's Second Violin Concerto was written for the famous violinist Mischa Elman, who commissioned it after hearing Martinu's music.
Composition History
Martinu composed approximately thirty concertos throughout his career, a number unequalled by any major composer since Mozart.
Composition History
Martinu's First Symphony was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky, the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, after Martinu's name was established in the U.S.
Composer Biography
Bohuslav Martinu, a Czech patriot and anti-Nazi composer, fled Europe in 1941 to escape persecution, arriving in New York after a long journey.
Historical Context
The Largo movement of Martinu's First Symphony was a spontaneous reaction to the Nazi destruction of the Czech village of Lidice in June 1942.
Composer's Artistic Vision
For his First Symphony, Martinu aimed to compose "chamber music on a symphonic scale," integrating his experience with the Concerto Grosso genre into a larger framework.
Performer Biography
Walter Weller, the conductor on this album, became a member of the Vienna Philharmonic at age 17 and later founded the successful Weller Quartet.
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