Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto: A Rite of Passage

Apr 23, 2018

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor is seemingly a rite of passage for violinists. Over the generations, it has proven itself to be among the quintessential violin concertos.

» Hear Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the NJSO May 3–6

Mendelssohn, with his Mozartean composing speed and production, took an unusually long time for this work (about six years). This is mainly because he spent so much time working with a friend and colleague, Ferdinand David, making sure the solo violin part was just right. This has proven to be time well spent.

Many violinists have been discovered, claimed their fame or made their first recordings with this work—some at ages that might surprise you.

 

Leia Zhu, age 9

Leia Zhu has claimed this concerto in her own way. Here is a recording of her at age 9—and this was not her first time performing this work professionally.

 

Ray Chen, age 19

Before he became a YouTube sensation with an international touring schedule, a 19-year-old Ray Chen performed the third movement for the Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition exactly 10 years ago.

 

Yehudi Menuhin, age 22

Yehudi Menuhin, for whom the above competition is named, was a legendary 20th-century violinist and an important artist in the recorded history of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Here is Menuhin, at 22, in possibly the earliest recording of this work—and one of the earliest recordings, period!

 

As you’ve been hearing, the third movement impresses the most, on the surface, for its pure fluidity and virtuosity. The first movement, however, is more recognizable for its passionate and almost immediate entrance of the solo violin.

 

Nathan Gendler, age 6

Here is another raising star, Nathan Gendler, at just 6 years old.

 

Julia Fischer, age 26

At an older age (relatively!), a 26-year-old Julia Fischer performed the work with Ivan Fischer and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in 2010.

 

Sarah Chang, age 15

Here is the now-world-famous Sarah Chang at 15, playing the concerto’s last movement with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic.

 

Itzhak Perlman, age 13

And last, but certainly not least, the one and only Itzhak Perlman performing the last movement at age 13.

 

Don't miss Ning Feng’s interpretion of this quintessential violin work with the NJSO May 3–6 in Englewood, Newark and Morristown.

» Concert info and tickets