Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 - 1847)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
I. Allegro molto appassionato
II. Andante
III. Allegretto non troppo - allegro molto vivace

Mendelssohn was only 16 when, in 1825, he first met the violinist Ferdinand David, one year his junior. They remained friends all Mendelssohn's life and when, ten years later, he was appointed director of the Gewandhaus concerts in Leipzig, Mendelssohn arranged for his friend to be engaged as leader of the orchestra. Quite soon, David asked Mendelssohn to write him a violin concerto. Normally a very rapid and fluent composer, it took Mendelssohn a surprisingly long time to complete the commission. In 1839 he wrote "It is nice of you to press me for a violin concerto! I have the liveliest desire to write one for you and, if I have a few propitious days, I'll bring you something. But the task is not an easy one." It clearly was not easy, for a full five years passed before the concerto was ready, and the first performance took place in Leipzig in 1845. Ferdinand David played the solo part, but Mendelssohn was ill and unable to conduct, so the concert was directed by a mutual friend, the Danish composer Neils Gade.

Many features of the concerto are unusual for its day. Instead of a long orchestral preamble presenting the main themes, the soloist comes in immediately with the passionate melody on which the first movement is built. The second theme, appearing much later on flutes and clarinets, is gently melancholic. The positioning of the cadenza is unconventional too, coming before the recapitulation of the opening material rather than at the end of the movement.

The slow movement follows without a break, linked to the preceding allegro by a held bassoon note - another innovation in this concerto, intended to discourage the audience from applauding between movements. It is a simple and lovely "song without words", with a more agitated central section.

The finale, which also should follow without a break, is preceded by a short introduction. The main theme is a delicate dancing tune, whose mood is light, like his music for Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. A more flowing melody appears is later, and is then combined with the dancing theme to great effect But the lasting impression is one of exuberant drive and joy.