THE STORY BEHIND: Haydn's Violin Concerto in C major

Title: Violin Concerto in C major, Hob.Vlla:1

Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Last time performed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic: This is a RI Philharmonic Orchestra premiere. In addition to a solo violin, this piece is scored for harpsichord and strings.

The Story: Haydn’s violin concerti are immediately recognizable for their sprightly use of the violin’s high register, chains of dotted rhythms, virtuosic double stops, and ornamental figuration. They were written during the 1760s to showcase the considerable talents of violinist Luigi Tomasini who, after building an impressive reputation in Italy, had just moved to Hungary to become the concertmaster of Haydn’s beloved Esterházy orchestra. Tomasini performed all four of them with considerable panache, much to the delight of the royal Austro-Hungarian court. But the manuscripts curiously disappeared into a publisher’s archive shortly after Haydn’s death, not to be rediscovered until 100 years later (one of the four, in fact, remains lost to this day). The first of these violin concerti stands as the most technically demanding of the lot. It is a marvel of pyrotechnical brilliance that all the while seems completely natural and fluid. The opening movement is energetic and regal, but with Italianate flourishes. The solo part has wide melodic leaps, long strings of harmonic sequences, and frequent use of arpeggios. The Adagio movement has become rightly famous on its own, built on a simple yet sublime rising scale motif in the violin part, supported by a repetitive accompaniment in the orchestra which crescendos to a climax along with the solo melody. The final movement, a lively romp in triple time, is full of fast runs, double stops and extensive changes in both volume and pitch.

Program Notes by Jamie Allen © 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED



Tickets start at $20! Click HERE or call 401-248-7000 to purchase today!