Концерт за цигулка и оркестър

THE VIOLIN CONCERTO was born in the difficult times before the war, when the 25-year-old pacifist composer decided to go to America. There, in 1939, the work was completed and Britton wrote to his publisher: "Without a doubt, this is my best work. I'm afraid it's too serious, but I got some nice tunes”. The concerto was written for the Spanish violinist Antonio Brosa, and was premiered in New York, on March 29^th 1940 with the New York Philharmonic conducted by John Barbirolli. The form, although in three movements, is highly unlike that of concertos from the Classical era - the alarmingly dynamic first part is followed by a diabolical scherzo, and the final lamento pascalia probably carries figurative suggestions about the tragic events of the Spanish Civil War.