DLXII. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: Concerto #3 in G Major for Violin, K. 216

DLXII. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)

Concerto #3 in G Major for Violin, K. 216 (1775)
1. Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Rondeau: Allegro
Hilary Hahn, violin
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Gustavo Dudamel, cond.
(27:47)

Hilary plays for Pope.

**

The wizened 19-year-old must have been a happy lad when he composed this concerto in Salzburg -- it's G Major theme is all sunshine and flowers:

The violin enters after the orchestra has worked it through:

A nice subtle modulation to the dominant (D):

D Minor:

As Mozart passes through various related keys, he lands on the subdominant (C), a relaxed feeling:

a brilliant cadenza, I believe written by Hahn.

Second movement

Items of interest: 1) Mozart replaces the oboes with flutes, and 2) the two-against-three rhythm which energizes the music:

The violin enters an octave higher:

Third movement

Lively Rondo. Note the violin does not enter with the theme, but with decorative ideas, accompanied simply by violins:

The happy rondo comes to a halt. The key changes to the tonic minor. The tempo changes to Andante, and the rhythm from three to four:

which picks up with this Allegretto, back in the major:

Back to the original tempo:

This ending is always surprising!