The Violin Concerto #2 by Sergei Prokofiev was completed and premiered in 1935. At the time, Prokofiev had been gradually repatriating himself back to Russia, after more than two decades of building his career in the West as a composer, conductor and pianist.
The Concerto was composed around the world while Prokofiev wrapped up his touring life. As he recalled in his autobiography, the first theme of the first movement was written in Paris, the main theme of the second in Voronezh, the orchestration was completed in Baku, and then the premiere took place in Madrid. And the music shows us the composer’s lyricism, anxiety, sarcasm, naiveté, wildness, and joy!
Here is violinist Janine Jansen to play this music for you:
