P. Tchaikovsky | Violin concerto op. 35 - Allegro moderato (1878)
 
Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto op. 35 stands as an iconic pillar in the violin repertoire. Composed amidst personal turmoil on Lake Geneva in 1878, its conception and initial reception was as troubled as immortal would be the eventual acclaim for its emotional power, inventive melodies, and technical difficulty. The premiere took place over 3 years after the composition, after both Kotek – who assisted Tchaikovsky in the composition – and Auer – who the concerto was initially dedicated to – refused to perform it. When a third violinist, Brodski, courageously embraced the burden to execute it in Vienna in 1881, the premiere was a debacle, eliciting fierce criticism from listeners and critics. It took years for both to understand the true value of the concerto, which beyond its virtuosity and overflowing emotionality represents a pristine example of musical invention.