Johan Halvorsen’s Violin Concerto - Rehearsal

For the first time in more than 100 years, Johan Halvorsen’s recently rediscovered Violin Concerto was played through in a rehearsal last week. Watch this behind the scenes footage of Henning, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and conductor Bjarne Engeset rehearsing at NRK, Oslo.
They will give the work its 21st Century premiere at the closing concert of Risør kammermusikkfest on 3 July, followed by a performance in Stavanger the day after.
Written for Kathleen Parlow in 1909 and premiered with her and the Berlin Philharmonic at summer residence concerts, Halvorsen’s Violin Concerto was also performed in Oslo and Utrecht. The work then disappeared and lived its life in a deep shadow, until it was found again in a library in Canada. Magnificent music indeed, by the composer most known for the Passacaglia Handel-Halvorsen for Violin and Viola (or Cello), recorded by Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman amongst others.
Now there is a new romantic concerto in the world, from this truly golden era of music.

[craigparker]

This is a fantastic piece which definitely did not deserve its lengthy oblivion. The premiere 21st-century performance, especially that of Henning Kraggerud, was electrifying. I look forward to his recording of this concerto for Naxos.