Violin Concerto in E minor Opus 64

On March 15th, 1845, one of the most beautiful pieces in the violin repertory was first played, in Gewandhaus, Leipzig. Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto will become one of the performance tests for violinists on their way to glory, and its fascinating beauty will make classical music lovers rate it again and again highly on their favorites. The work was dedicated to virtuoso violin player Ferdinand David, and he is the one who played the solo violin part on opening night. He also gave Mendelssohn some technical advice during the writing and only after his approval, did the composer introduce some extremely difficult elements such as hard arpeggios, trills and playing double strings.

The work itself never ceases to surprise. Unlike any other concerto, this one opens with the solo violin part, and only later does the orchestra join on the second theme, and the solo violinist accompanies it with a constant sound, versus the melody played in the woodwinds. The cadenza, that solo section of the violin, which usually comes at the end of the concerto's first movement, comes, in this exceptional piece, in the middle of the movement. Now comes the repeatition of the first part (the reprise) and the ending (coda), giving full expression of the violin's virtuosity. At the end of the movement, the bassoon enters with a long, non-stop note, connecting us to the second movement.

The second movement, Andante, is opened with a soft and emotional playing in C major, after which an A minor interlude - a very lively section, and in its conclusion, the opening tune returns, and then a direct passage to the last movement.

The final movement, Allegro molto vivace, is full of life and color and it returns to the opening melody of the violin, as the violinist plays variations on its every sound.

Alongside Beethoven's and Brahms's violin concerti, that of Mendelssohn is considered one of the greatest. And unlike those of Beethoven and Brahms, built as large-scale symphonic works with a solo violin, Mendelssohn wrote his concerto as a piece for a solo violin with orchestral accompaniment. This is Mendelssohn's unique idea and the reason why the best of violinists have topped themselves performing this concerto, and perceived it a true test of their artistic ability.