Concerto for violoncello of Dvořák

Concerto for violoncello n° 2
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Le Concerto for violoncello n° 2 in so minor , COp 104 (B. 191), was made up whereas Dvořák remained with the the United States. It took form and was completed during the winter 1895.

It was the last Concerto which wrote the type-setter and probably more succeeded, its first attempts (Concerto for piano, COp 33 and Concerto for violin, COp 53) having been criticized for the imposing prevalence of the orchestra to the detriment of the soloist as regretted it the violonist Joseph Joachim. Work is located chronologically between its ninth and last symphony and its Symphonic poems . It had the idea of the partition after having listened to the concerto for violoncello n° 2 of Victor Herbert, American type-setter, known primarily for its Opérette S.

There exists a partition of a first concerto for Violoncelle of 1865 but it was never orchestrated by its author.

The sister-in-law and former student of the type-setter (and love stiff with youth), died little before the end of her drafting. It is possible that made him modify the end of this Concerto, but Dvořák did not leave testimony on this subject. His/her son however wrote later that the final one was a homage to the “last love of the musician”.

Work was dedicated with his/her friend Hanuš Wihan, Violoncelliste. But an artistic disagreement opposes the two men on certain revisions of the partition and Dvořák challenges in particular the gives rhythm last movement.

Creation took place on March 19th 1896 with London with Leo Stern with the violoncello accompanied by the orchestra by the philharmonic company under the direction by the type-setter.

It includes/understands three movements and its execution lasts approximately thirty minutes:

Allegro ;
Adagio my nontroppo ;
Final. Allegro moderato .

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