The
Violin Concerto in D minor begins with a substantial opening movement, Allegro; the addition of wind instruments gives the concerto a timbre that has the flavour of an opera seria. The solo violin’s entry, with its relentless virtuoso difficulties, returns us firmly to concerto territory, the bravura violin-writing being fit for contemporary virtuosos such as Tartini. This movement is based on a single theme, with variations. The Adagio in F major (without horns) is just 23 bars long, a gentle episode that introduces an elegant theme reminiscent of Johann Adolf Hasse. The third movement, Tempo di minuetto, is like a ballet in galant style, but full of chords that anticipate the later Sturm und Drang period. The violin-writing is superbly idiomatic, and sometimes seems to allude to the atmosphere of a Vivaldian
concerto alla rustica.
from notes by Dinko Fabris © 2008
