Tibor Varga Competition | Final
30.08.25 > 19:30
> Grande salle, NODA BCVS
Description
Concertos with orchestra | 3 candidates
An exceptional evening awaits you for the final of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition 2025! Our three finalists will each perform one of the greatest violin concertos, accompanied by the South Czech Philharmonic and winds from major Italian orchestras, conducted by Valentin Uryupin.
Beethoven and Mendelssohn both elevated the concerto genre, developed by Vivaldi in the 18th century. In the luminous key of D major, Beethoven’s concerto stands as one of his happiest works. Rich and rhythmic orchestration reveals all the soloist’s personality. Mendelssohn’s concerto, unanimously loved by the public and violinists, captivates from its first movement with quivering lyricism.
The concertos by Tchaikovsky and Brahms, contemporaries, are among the most formidable in the repertoire. The first, composed in just a few days, unfolds a passionate lyrical discourse. The second, also in D major, the fruit of friendship between Brahms and violinist Joseph Joachim, was long considered unplayable, but is now regarded as one of the masterpieces of the romantic repertoire.
Schumann, also inspired by Joachim, composed a violin concerto in 1856 that would not premiere until 1937. For Yehudi Menuhin, its profound humanity and rhythmic daring make it a treasure, like a missing link between Beethoven and Brahms. Finally, Shostakovich’s Second Concerto plunges us into the heart of his psyche: a secret and intimate work that questions man in the face of his past.
A highly emotional evening awaits for this Tibor Varga Competition 2025 final: good luck to our candidates!
Program
Concerto of the candidate’s choice from the following list, to be played from memory: /
L. v. Beethoven / Concerto in D major, Op. 61
J. Brahms / Concerto in D major, Op. 77
D. Chostakovitch / Concerto N° 2 in C sharp minor, Op. 129
F. Mendelssohn / Concerto No 2 in E minor, Op. 64
R. Schumann / Concerto in D minor, WoO 23
P. I. Tchaïkovski / Concerto in D major, Op. 35
& a piece for solo violin, preferably composed after 1970, at the free choice of the finalist /
Artists
Concert venue
Avenue de Tourbillon 22
Sion
Switzerland