music introduction
Violin Concerto in D minor - Felix Mendelssohn
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When most 13-year-olds were busy with school, Felix Mendelssohn was composing a stirring Concerto in D minor for violin and strings.
This youthful musical moment, created around 1822, is a three-movement gem showing both the balance of Classical tradition and the spirited colour of early Romanticism.
Mendelssohn in 1821
Mendelssohn dedicated this concerto to his dear friend and violin teacher, Eduard Rietz, who played a key role in his early musical life. That personal bond shines throughout, as the violin's voice weaves lovingly with the warm embrace of the string ensemble.
But here is the twist
After its creation, the concerto vanished and was never performed in Mendelssohn’s lifetime or for many decades afterward.
Then, in 1951, violin legend Yehudi Menuhin stumbled upon the dusty manuscript, edited it, and premiered it at Carnegie Hall, USA on February 4, 1952.
Critics hailed its lively jesting finale in the gypsy style and called it utterly delightful.
Though not as well-known as his later E-minor concerto, this piece holds a unique charm: it offers a rare glimpse into the heart of a young genius, alive with honesty, creativity, and youthful imagination.
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