Dvorak Violin Concerto

Admit it: if you're a fan of classical music—or
even just a regular concertgoer—you might have glanced at the
title of this episode and done a double take. The Dvořák Violin
Concerto? Not the Cello Concerto?


One of the things I love about my job as a conductor—and my side
gig as a podcast host—is bringing audiences and listeners like
you pieces you may never have heard before, even if they're by
extremely well-known composers. Don’t get me wrong, I love the
blockbusters. But there’s a special thrill in introducing someone
to something new.


Now, some of you might already be big fans of the Dvořák Violin
Concerto. But in my experience, it’s relatively unknown compared
to Dvořák’s more famous works. I’ve never performed it myself,
and I’ve only heard it live once. It’s not part of most touring
soloists’ repertoire, and it’s just one of those pieces that
rarely comes up—especially compared to the Cello Concerto, which
I think I’ve conducted at least once every season since becoming
a conductor.


This concerto came about much like the Brahms Violin Concerto,
the Brahms Double Concerto we talked about a couple of weeks ago,
and so many other great 19th-century works: inspired by the sound
of Joseph Joachim’s violin. Joachim was the great violinist of
the 19th century and had been a friend and supporter of Dvořák
for many years. Dvořák ended up dedicating the concerto to
Joachim, writing: "I dedicate this work to the great Maestro Jos.
Joachim, with the deepest respect, Ant. Dvořák."


Sadly—and for reasons that remain somewhat unclear—Joachim never
performed the piece. That may be one of the reasons it’s never
achieved the popularity it deserves.


Today, in this Patreon-sponsored episode, we’ll dive into the
concerto, exploring its unusual form, the myriad challenges it
poses for the violinist, and perhaps some reasons why it’s not
part of the so-called “Big Five” violin concertos—even though it
probably deserves to be.