Violin Concerto No. 1 (Saint-Saëns)
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| Violin Concerto | |
|---|---|
| by Camille Saint-Saëns | |
 | |
| Key | A Major |
| Opus | 20 |
| Period | Romantic |
| Genre | Concerto |
| Composed | 1859 |
| Movements | 1 |
| Scoring | Violin & Orchestra |
| Premiere | |
| Date | April 4, 1867 |
| Location | Paris |
| Conductor | Camille Saint-Saëns |
| Performers | Pablo de Sarasate, Paris Philharmonic |
The Violin Concerto No. 1 in A major, Op. 20, by Camille Saint-Saëns is a piece for violin and orchestra written in 1859 and premiered in 1867 in Paris. Despite its numbering, this concerto was Saint-Saëns' second for the violin because it was published first.[1][2] This was the first in a string of collaborations with virtuoso violinist Pablo Sarasate, who was only 15 years old at the time. This concerto, along with No. 2 and No. 3, would result in a lifelong friendship and collaboration between Saint-Saëns and Sarasate. The work never gained much popularity during Saint-Saëns' lifetime, to his disappointment.[3]
The work is scored for solo violin, 2 flutes/piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, and strings.[4]
Structure
The work is in only a single movement, labeled allegro.
The piece has a performance time of approximately 12 minutes, garnering criticism for its short length. Critics called the work a 'concert piece' because it is barely longer than other works of that label, much to the annoyance of Saint-Saëns himself.[3]
