About the work
Max Bruch's first violin concerto premiered in Koblenz in 1866 and, after a thorough revision with advice from the violinist Joseph Joachim, was performed in its final form in Bremen in 1868. It remains one of the most frequently performed violin concertos.
Plot
Three movements that flow into one another without a break: a rhapsodic prelude, a heartfelt Adagio at its core and a fiery finale with a Hungarian-tinged main theme.
Cultural significance
The concerto made Bruch famous but overshadowed the rest of his output throughout his life. He sold the rights early for a single payment and barely profited from its success.