Did
you have the opportunity to see the world premiere of André Previn’s Double
Concerto for Violin and Cello last fall? Today I’d like to continue our look at
living composers by exploring his life and listening to his Violin Concerto.
Previn
is a world-famous conductor, composer, pianist, and Grammy-award winner who was
first exposed to music by his father. Coming from a Russian-Jewish background,
the family moved to the US during Nazi Germany time and young Previn began
playing piano in night clubs and for silent films. He completed several jazz
recordings in the 1940s and went on to study composition. Writing and
conducting studio orchestras in films throughout the 50s and 60s, Previn is
known for contributing music to hits including Gigi and My Fair Lady.
Eventually he expanded his repertoire to include more classical pieces.
Previn
prefers to compose with a specific artist in mind. He wrote his Violin Concerto
for his wife at the time, Anne-Sophie Mutter, whose playing he strongly
admires. The piece incorporates a German children’s song (“If I were a bird and
had two wings, I’d fly to you…”) in the third movement. Growing up in Germany,
he knew this song as a child.
Join
me next time as we wrap up the month by discussing Nico Muhly!
