The Violin Concerto No. 1 in A major, Op. 20, by Camille Saint-Saëns is a piece for violin and orchestra written in 1859 and premiered in 1867 in Paris. Despite its numbering, this concerto was Saint-Saëns' second for the violin because it was published first.[1][2] This was the first in a string of collaborations with virtuoso violinist Pablo Sarasate, who was only 15 years old at the time. This concerto, along with No. 2 and No. 3, would result in a lifelong friendship and collaboration between Saint-Saëns and Sarasate. The work never gained much popularity during Saint-Saëns' lifetime, to his disappointment.[3]
Instrumentation
The work is scored for solo violin, 2 flutes/piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, and strings.[4]
Structure
The work is in only a single movement, labeled allegro.
The piece has a performance time of approximately 12 minutes, garnering criticism for its short length. Critics called the work a 'concert piece' because it is barely longer than other works of that label, much to the annoyance of Saint-Saëns himself.[3]
