Violin Concerto No. 1 (Prokofiev)

The Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, opus 19, written in 1916–7 by Sergei Prokofiev, is a work in three movements:

1. Andantino
2. Scherzo – Vivacissimo
3. Moderato – Andante

It premiered on October 18 1923 at the Paris Opera with Marcel Darrieux playing the violin part and the Paris Opera Orchestra conducted by Serge Koussevitzky. The work opens ethereally, gains momentum and becalms; this describes both the opening movement, and the piece taken as a whole. The three movements begin in D major, A minor and G minor, and the work closes in a manner similar to that of the opening movement, seeming to climb peacefully. The concerto is scored for moderate-sized orchestra with a small percussion section.

External Links

• More on the History of the Concerto, from a Program Note
• Prokofiev.org page on Concerto