Shostakovitch - Violin Concerto No 1 Op 77

with Maxim Vengerov

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Intermediate 2 lessons (0h 48m) Mobile, Tablet + Desktop

Maxim Vengerov is recognised as one of the world's most exciting and brilliant violinists. His prodigious talent emerged when he was very young. He gave his first recital at the age of five and went on to win First Prize in the Junior Wieniawski Competition when he was ten years old, confirming his promise as a violinist of rare talent. Still in his mid-thirties he is now acknowledged throughout the world as one of the great musicians of our time.

He is also an outstanding teacher and is Professor of Violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Perceptive, entertaining and always sensitive to the individual personality and ability of his pupils, he has an extraordinary ability to convey his insights into the music and inspire his students.

The Passacaglia, third movement of Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77, is the central component of this masterclass. Composed in 1948 and first performed in public in 1955, it is dedicated to the composer's friend David Oïstrakh, a virtuoso he admires; it is the reason why the work is so technical. Oïstrakh took time to become familiar with this very unique work, but then soon became its most fervent defender. Thanks to him, seven years after being composed, the work was created and acclaimed. Indeed, the concerto distinguishes itself by its Passacaglia, notable for its juxtaposition of Stalin's theme from the Seventh Symphony and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

In partnership with The Masterclass Media Foundation Archives, which provides a valuable educational resource in order to perpetuate musical passion and knowledge from one generation to another. [MMF019]