Dating back to the 1600s, violin concertos remain the most popular music genre in modern concert halls. Probably because it’s an opportunity for accomplished violinists to showcase their technical skills or it’s due to the sweet sound from the intricate melodies played in harmony. 

Whatever the reason, listening to the best violin concertos composed by renowned legends like Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, during the Baroque period, is an opportunity every violinist treasures. Here are some of the best violin concertos. 

The 16 Greatest Violin Concertos

Below we've listed the greatest violin concertos of all time. Be sure to also check out our article covering the best cello concertos too.

1. Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Composed in 1806, this violin concerto is the only one from Ludwig van Beethoven. It’s such a great violin concerto that it has been dubbed a rite of passage for every organ instrumentalist. The piece borrows greatly from Romantic lyricism, and when mixed with technical prowess, and extended cadenzas, it yields beautiful melodies.

The Beethoven concerto consists of three movements: the allegro followed by larghetto which finishes off as a rondeau. The ferocious start (allegro) sets the pace for the melody, ushering in the steady larghetto movement and the enthralling rondeau to create a melodious sound that brings joy to the listener. Legendary violinists like Itzhak Perlman have performed this piece exhibiting high energy levels, skill, and sense of music.

2. Brahms Violin Concerto

Composer: Johannes Brahms

Initially composed as a piano concerto, Brahms Violin Concerto was the only violin concerto he ever produced. Being a devout student of famous violinists like Vadim Gluzman, Zakhar Bron and Beethoven, this piece borrows greatly from each composer.

Brahms's concerto uses Beethoven’s knowledge to determine the character and length of each of the three movements, outdoing his master to an extent. The first and second movements plunge into indescribable depths featuring Gluzman’s mellow tune, athletic leaps, and neat trills.

Johannes Brahms also borrows a little from his friend, Joseph Joachim. He features in the melodic cadenzas that require great prowess to master. In the last movement of this major Brahms music it end in a cheerful Hungarian folk tune, a feast for your ears.

3. Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.3

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart is remembered for producing the most popular concertos, but Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.3 stands out. The concerto has three movements- the allegro, rondeau, and adagio. The first movement starts slow building up over time to welcome adagio rondeau, the main theme of the melody.

The last movement enters with a burst of sound, producing a loud, melodic tune with a slow, gripping ending that leaves the listeners craving more. Notably, Mozart didn’t write his cadenzas when composing this piece, probably inviting violinists to add their creativity to the piece.

4. Tchaikovsky Concerto

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Composed in 1878, this piece was one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest violin concertos in any concerto repertoire. Tchaikovsky composed the piece as a dedication to his long-term friend, Kotek. An orchestra leads the music with a calm tone which grows into a fiery and passionate tune to usher in the soloist who introduces the first movement.

The soloist then picks speed producing louder and more virtuoso tones as the piece unfolds until they reach a new theme. This part of the piece is warmer but is played in a fast harmonic rhythm.

Unfortunately, not many people can play the original version of the piece. Legendary violinists like Leopold Auer, Emile Sauret, and Karl Davydoc declined to play the piece citing it as unplayable. It was only in 1881 when Adolph Brodsky decided to play the concerto during a premiere in Vienna. Modern-day violinists like Sarah Chang have also managed to master this music.

5. Elgar Violin Concerto

Composer: Edward Elgar

Edward is known for composing the celebrated tone poem, In the South, as well as the grand Pomp and Circumstance Marches, but they never outdo his 1910 classical music composition. Elgar began composing the piece in 1890 but only completed it in 1910 after much persuasion from Fritz Kreisler, a renowned violinist.

An orchestra introduces the piece in a melodic tune, building it into short bursts. A solo player joins the presentation producing an entirely new tone and causing the second subject to drift off into oblivion. The second movement is simple and harmonious, ushering in a dramatic tone full of agonizing intensity.

The third movement starts with a sense of hope, but quickly turns into a haunting tone filled with melancholy. Elgar’s ability to compose a piece that elicits a mixture of emotions makes it the greatest violin concerto of all time.

6. Bach Concerto with 2 Violins

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Although Bach wasn’t a fan of composing violin concertos, this particular one stands out. The composition features two violin concertos (one in E major and the other in A minor), producing fantastic melodies. Two violins are used during the performance, dueling and duetting throughout.

The premise for this piece was to showcase the more traditional concerto form that defined the late Baroque era. It opens with vivacity as a show-off session, leads you to the largo movement and ends in an exciting allegro section with listeners standing on their feet to pay homage.

7. Sibelius Violin Concerto in D Minor op. 47

Composer: Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius is the most prolific composer of the 19th century. Born in Finland, Jean is remembered for his music conservatism, borrowing greatly from legendary composers like Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven.

This 1904-piece peaks from the beginning as the violinist starts by playing a virtuosic alone without the orchestra. It’s followed by a stream of thoughts that begins with a delicate, dreamy melody introducing the soloist.

A mini-cadenza follows, marked by a flurry of rapid notes building up to Jean’s emotional recitation. The orchestra then joins the ensemble converting the melody from a furious tune to a melancholy.

8. Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1

Composer: Max Bruch

This Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor is one of the best violin concertos, competing hand-in-hand with Bruch’s two other concertos, including the Scottish Fantasy. It’s admired for its rich lyricism and great technical agility spanning the entire period of playing the instrument.

Bruch's violin concerto no 1 has three movements with initial movement requiring the player to perform emotional solo passages alternating with a more soundly paced orchestral tune. The second movement-Adagio- introduces three sentimental themes evident in solo and orchestral parts, while the final movement features a vibrant theme reminiscent of a folk dance.

Max Bruch completed the violin concerto no 1 in 1866, but it premiered in 1868 when Joachim, a renowned violinist, played it as a soloist in a premier. Since then, the piece has received much acclaim being the most performed piece in all violin concerti.

9. Felix Mendelssohn- Violin Concerto in E Minor

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn

Composed in 1845, this concerto is one of the best Felix Mendelssohn ever composed. He wrote it when he was 13, yet it showcases amazing prowess, stamina, and maturity. This violin concerto in e minor is often played at weddings, probably due to its ability to evoke romantic sentiments.

The soloist starts playing almost immediately, ushering in the allegro, a culmination of deep pathos and pyrotechnics. The piece displays some calmness at the Adagio before bursting into a rip-roaring finale at the end.

10. Bela Bartok Violin Concerto No 2

Composer: Bela Bartok

This concerto was the most underrated piece of the 20th century. Composed between 1937 and 1938, Bartok wrote this music to express his frustration with the then-Nazi system. The use of folk elements without actually employing folk tunes in the lyrical opening theme makes this piece stand out.

Bela sets the stage using a combination of instrumental sounds from the pizzicato, horn, and harp strumming. The second movement introduces a contrasting theme, illustrated by the 12 tonal sequences.

The mid-point is where all the magic happens as the violin is played in an exquisite cantilena followed by muted orchestral violins, the harp, and the celesta. Bela's violin concerto no 2 ends with an embellished version before the soloist bursts into a lyrical tune.

11. Schumann’s Violin Concerto D Minor

Composer: Robert Schumann

Composed in 1851, this violin concerto was the only one Schumann ever wrote. He wrote it in rapid succession using two violin sonatas and a piano. The result was a melodic tune full of passion and depths that sweep you off your feet. However, his music only premiered in 1937, 80 years after it was composed.

12. Antonin Dvorak Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53

Composer: Antonin Dvorak

Antonin composed this piece following commissioning by his mentor, Joseph Joachim. He released the piece in 1882, allowing Joachim to perform it in a private rehearsal. It later came to the spotlight in 1883 when Frantisek Ondricek, a young Czech violinist, performed it at a National Theater in Prague.

The piece begins with a bold orchestral tune before a soloist enters to introduce a contrasting episode of bravura passages. The player is accompanied by other violins, which produce a principal tripping theme that mimics a vigorous Czech dance. It then ends in an overtly unique tune reminiscent of Czech folk music.

13. Erich Wolfgang Korngold Violin Concerto in D Major, Op 35

Composer: Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Although Erich was a Jewish refugee from Austria, he managed to make a name for himself in the United States as a filmmaker. Among his many creative productions is this concerto featuring the classical period. It’s perhaps one of the most underrated pieces in this genre Erich ever wrote, but it has received global acclaim, with renowned violinists like Hilary Hahn performing it.

14. Samuel Barber Violin Concerto Op. 14

Composer: Samuel Barber

Samuel composed this classical music following commissioning from Samuel Simeon Fels, the president of a soap manufacturing company. Barber started composing it immediately (1934), but war interruptions saw him completing it in 1939.

The concerto was first performed in 1941 by Albert Spalding and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The allegro introduces a melting main theme followed by a pensive slow movement and ends in a dancing tune. Barber uses the Romantic formula in its composition, showcased in the mellow characters.

15. Arnold's Violin Concerto

Composer: Arnold Schoenberg

The mention of Arnold’s name still evokes many emotions seventy years after his death. The legendary composer is credited with introducing a 12-note technique culminating in an entirely new serial composition.

The concerto was one of the first works he completed in his new homeland dedicating it to his student Anton von Webern. It’s still the most complex piece Arnold ever created, imposing complicated bowing techniques, but famous violinists like Hilary Hahn have mastered playing it perfectly.

16. Igor Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major

Composer: Igor Stravinsky

This piece was one of the first to be produced during the neo-classical period. Stravinsky composed it for Samuel Dushkin, a Polish-American violinist who helped him analyze his lyrical productions.

The allegro presents the main theme using trumpets and is later re-interpreted by the soloist, who returns it to its original form towards the end.

Stravinsky introduces subtle neo-classical elements by mixing features of the Double Concerto, playing the barrel organ and the baroque musette with scraps of the popular waltz tune. He completely veers away from the traditional concerto form of Bach’s music which inspired him for a long time.

FAQs

Why are most concertos labelled as D?

Violins have open strings labeled A, D, E, and G. Most violin concertos use D major and minor scales because it provides more opportunities to open strings.

Which is the most challenging concerto to play?

Sibelius Violin Concerto in D Minor op. 47 and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto are probably the hardest concertos to master. They’re the most intense compositions ever written in classical music, and only great virtuosos have managed to play them.

Who composed the most violin concertos?

Antonio Vivaldi is one of the greatest composers of all time. Having written more than 500 concertos during the Baroque period, including Four Seasons, no composer has managed to beat him so far.

Can beginners play the Mozart violin concerto?

Most of Mozart’s concertos are not easy to play, but many beginners have confessed to hailing the Mozart Violin Concerto No.3 piece.

Should I learn Mendelssohn or Bruch concerto first?

Both concertos are challenging to play, but Bruch has more straightforward lyrics than its counterpart. It's nearly the same as lark ascending except your fingers must be fast and more articulate. Mendelssohn has more subtle phrasing you must bring out when playing the violin.

Conclusion

With this list of the best violin concertos, you can quickly pick classical music for practice or relaxation. Professional violin players can use their favorite violin concertos to perfect their skills, while composers can get inspiration for their pieces.