Early Version Of 1844 And Late Version Of 1845. Par MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY FELIX. Replaces BA 9050- The orchestral parts are unchanged and continue to be available as BA 9050-65/-74/-75/-79/-82/-85 Mendelssohn' s Violin Concerto op. 64, is a key work of the 19th century, adhering to the classical style of Beethoven while pointing the way to the romantic ethos of Brahms. It has long been known that Mendelssohn performed the work with three soloists in succession: Ferdinand David, who worked closely with the composer during its composition and played it at the première- the 'child prodigy' Joseph Joachim- and Hubert Léonard, a young Belgian virtuoso about whom little is known. As proof sheets for the Violin Concerto in E minor were long considered lost, it could be described as somewhat of a sensation when proofs for the solo violin part resurfaced together with a letter from Mendelssohn to Léonard. The letter informs us that the composer invited Léonard to his home in Frankfurt in order to make his acquaintance. It was already known that Mendelssohn had given proof sheets to David- now we know that he also gave some to Léonard. The recently discovered proofs reveal how Léonard played the concerto with Mendelssohn on that memorable evening in February 1845. Besides containing bowing marks and fingering, they also show how Léonard executed shifts of position and where he employed open strings. Furthermore modifications made to dynamic markings and additional legato bowing are shown. It is safe to assume that all of this was done with Mendelssohn' s approval. That the young violinist made a positive impression on the composer is confirmed in the latter' s correspondence following their joint performance. Mendelssohn is full of praise for Léonard' s playing and offers to lend his support in finding employment in Germany. This revised edition of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto (only the orchestral parts remain unchanged) includes a separate booklet on performance practice. The editor, Clive Brown, is an acknowledged expert on Romantic performance practice. - New source situation owing to recently rediscovered proofs - Revised Urtext edition - With a separate booklet on performance practice (Eng/Ger)/ Répertoire / Violon et Orchestre

My Violin Concerto is scored for a Classical-sized orchestra, with the addition of a harp and celeste, and lasts around 17 minutes. Although the work sets out to explore the lyrical characteristics of the solo instrument, it is only gradually that the violin finds its full, lyric voice, and thence, as the work progresses, a more dominant role. This, in one sense, is the 'journey' of the piece.The work's straightforward formal scheme consists of three movements (roughly fast-slow-fast) framed by a reflective introduction and epilogue. However, these formal divisions exist within a single, unbroken arc. Such an overall symmetrical shape places the slow Arioso (itself divided into three subsections) at the midpoint, sandwiched between the two Allegro movements. The dramaturgy of the piece centres on a twofold search. First there is the ongoing pursuit to 'recapture' the simple melodic material stated by the solo violin - accompanied by the harp's bass register - during the opening bars. Whilst aspects of this melody are invoked frequently throughout (especially in the violin cadenza which closes the Arioso movement), it is only with the final and most important climax of the work that the melody appears again in its complete form, now accompanied by violent, orchestral stabs. The second search is for a tonal resting place, the arrival of which is delayed until the close of the epilogue.The original version of the Violin Concerto, commissioned by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, was premiered in Amsterdam in February 2012 with Gordan Nikolic as soloist. The present, revised version was created for Barnabás Kelemen and the Hallé. The piece is dedicated, with admiration, to my friend Oliver Knussen. (Ryan Wigglesworth) / Violon Et Orchestre