ABSTRACT
‘A real masterpiece’ 1 and ‘a most original and spellbinding work’ 2 are typical of the many superlatives used to describe Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto, Op. 35; many regard it as his finest large-scale work. The composer’s only extended violin work as well as the single violin composition with orchestra from the time of the First World War, it has always been among Szymanowski’s most popular works, even during his lifetime. Excused from military service because of a leg injury from early childhood, Szymanowski lived in Tymoszówka during the war years. It was a prolific period: also among his compositions from this time are Notturno e Tarantella, Op. 28 (1915) and Mythes, Op. 30 (1915) for violin and piano [see Violin Solo Music].
