Written in 1907 as a gift to the Hungarian violinist Stefi Geyer, Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 lay in a locked drawer for years before it was finally premiered in 1958, nearly 13 years after the composer's death. The point of contention here was the composer's unrequited love for Ms. Geyer, who was already married and apparently not interested in Bartók's romantic gestures. Romantic, indeed - this concerto is lush and full, bringing out the best of the violin's sound. The concerto has two movements, rather than the usual three, and is a challenging work, sure to find favor with advanced violinists.This edition for violin with piano reduction is published by Boosey & Hawkes
PP10