Violin Concerto (Panufnik)
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The Violin Concerto, composed by Andrzej Panufnik in 1971, is a concerto for violin and string orchestra.[1] The work was written for and at the request of Yehudi Menuhin.[2]
The work has three movements:
- Rubato, which commences and concludes with cadenzas for the soloist
- Adagio
- Vivace
The work features long, singing melodic lines for the soloist. Panufnik wrote of the work: "When Yehudi Menuhin asked me to compose a violin concerto for him, I immediately had in mind his unique spiritual and poetic qualities and I felt I should provide a vehicle which would accentuate these rare gifts, and not obscure his deep inner musicianship by virtuoso pyrotechnics."[2]
Menuhin premiered the work on 18 July 1972 at the Guildhall, London (City of London Festival), with the Menuhin Festival Orchestra under Panufnik's baton.[3]
