Igor Strawinskys Violinkonzert in D-Dur. 18.Juni 2026

144. Stravinsky's birthday. Violin Concerto in D major. Neoclassical highlight in the Galerie am Roten Hof.

Entry – free donation

On 18. On June 1, a special concert will take place in the Galerie am Roten Hof dedicated to an important anniversary: ​​the 144th anniversary. Igor Stravinsky's birthday. The focus of the program is his groundbreaking Violin Concerto in D major from 1931, which is considered one of the most brilliant examples of his neoclassical phase.

The history of this work is closely linked to the publisher Schott Music, which suggested to Stravinsky in 1930 that he write a piece for the violinist Samuel Dushkin compose. Since Stravinsky was not a violinist himself and was skeptical about the emotional “warmth” of string instruments, he was initially hesitant. It was his colleague Paul Hindemith who convinced him that his lack of experience with the violin could lead to a completely original and unconventional composition.

A legendary moment in music history occurred during a meeting in a Parisian café: Stravinsky sketched a dissonant three-note chord (D-E-A) on a napkin and asked Dushkin about it its playability. Although the violinist initially had doubts, he finally found the right appliqué. Stravinsky was enthusiastic and henceforth called this chord the “pass of the concert”, as it opens each of the four movements as a connecting element.

The work breaks with the traditional three-part structure and is structured in four movements, the names of which are based on baroque suites:

1. Toccata: energetic, ironic and with rhythmic peculiarities
2. “musical cubism” is called. While composers like Mozart strived for symmetry, Stravinsky dismantled the forms and reassembled them in an angular and rhythmically unpredictable manner. For Austrian musical life, the work represents a fascinating intellectual counterpoint to the late romantic tradition.

   Visitors to the concert on June 18th can look forward to a special version: the authorized arrangement for violin and piano, which Stravinsky himself created as a “Réduction”. In this edition published by Schott Music (ED 2190), the piano does not function as mere accompaniment, but as an equal dialogue partner. Due to the high level of technical difficulty, this version is considered one of the most demanding tasks in the chamber music repertoire.

   The performers of the evening:

   The technically highly demanding work will be performed by two distinguished musicians: Farid Feyzullayev (violin) and Zhala Rasulova(piano). Together they create the intensive dialogue between the instruments that is so characteristic of Stravinsky's chamber music.

   Those interested are invited to experience this “magical pass chord” and Stravinsky's visionary power in the Galerie am Roten Hof.

   
   

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   Event details: Guests of the evening are also cordially invited to see the gallery's current exhibition - “BAGATELLES II“ — which can be seen until June 20th.