Top 5 underrated violin concertos

In this post, I'll be sharing the top 5 underrated violin concertos in my personal opinion. These are pieces that are either overshadowed by others, not played enough, not talked about enough, or just overlooked. We are so lucky to have so many incredible pieces in the violin repertoire-it's no wonder that some fantastic works get overshadowed.

#1: Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2

In my experience, Prokofiev No. 1 is much more popular than No. 2 and I'm not sure why! Prokofiev No. 1 is incredibly flashy and virtuosic, but I find No. 2 to not only be more melodic but also have more beautiful melodies. My favorite movement is the 2nd. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

#2: Stravinsky Violin Concerto

Stravinsky is best known for his orchestral works such as the Rite of Spring and the Firebird. In high school, one of my closest friends was a bassoonist, and the Rite of Spring opens with a very difficult and exposed bassoon solo, so he was always practicing it. I decided to see if Stravinsky wrote any violin works and stumbled upon his concerto. This piece is fiery, passionate, and filled with several great head-banging moments 🤘 Stravinsky also blends classical styles with his own harmonic and tonal language, which makes it unique yet still accessible to the listener.

#3: Khachaturian Violin Concerto

Khachaturian was an Armenian composer mostly known for his ballet and orchestral works; however, he wrote an amazing violin concerto as well. This piece is heavily based off of folk tunes and has a lot of catchy melodies. Khachaturian also uses a fairly unique tonal language focusing heavily on diminished chords and chromaticism. Listening and playing this piece will no doubt exponentially improve your ear.

#4: Conus Violin Concerto

I'd be willing to be you have never heard of Conus or this piece before, and if I'm wrong, leave a comment! This was actually the first piece I played when I started my undergraduate degree, and I like to think of it as a baby Sibelius. It is technically easier than Sibelius, but has a lot of similar skills, making it a great preparation piece.

#5: Glazunov Violin Concerto

This piece is extremely difficult, which may be a part of the reason it is not played as much as it should be. It's very accessible to the listener, with plenty of lyrical melodies and exciting virtuosic passages, however it certainly does not follow the typical classical chord structure, which may also contribute to its lesser popularity.

Comment below- Had you heard these pieces before? What do you think about them? What are some of your most underrated violin concertos or pieces?