Henri Vieuxtemps · Advanced · violin
How to play Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry)
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry) is in A minor and sits at the advanced level. Common advanced concerto-round audition and competition piece; a staple of the Franco-Belgian virtuoso repertoire. The fastest way through it is to name the passage that keeps breaking, on the same five dimensions a panel listens for, and fix that one first.
The hard passages
- Dramatic, declamatory writing and double stops in the opening Allegro
- Sustained lyrical line over the brief Adagio (which quotes Gretry's 'Lucile')
- Brilliant fiery finale (Allegro con fuoco) with rapid passagework
- Linking the movements without pause while sustaining the dramatic arc
What panels listen for
Dramatic projection in the opening, a genuine cantabile in the Adagio, and clean, energetic passagework in the finale.
Frequently asked
How hard is Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry)?
Advanced level. Standard advanced Romantic concerto on senior conservatory/diploma and audition lists; beyond the Suzuki sequence. Often programmed as a single-movement-feel showpiece (~18-20 minutes).
What tempo is Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry)?
I. Allegro non troppo; II. Adagio; III. Allegro con fuoco. The three movements are played without breaks. Individual movement keys beyond the overall A minor are not uniformly documented, so only the work key is asserted.
What are the hardest parts of Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry)?
The passages that trip players up: Dramatic, declamatory writing and double stops in the opening Allegro, Sustained lyrical line over the brief Adagio (which quotes Gretry's 'Lucile'), Brilliant fiery finale (Allegro con fuoco) with rapid passagework, Linking the movements without pause while sustaining the dramatic arc.
How can I tell if I am ready to perform Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry)?
Talk it through with the teacher, free, no signup. Play your take of Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37 (Gretry), get the one specific fix that is holding you back, then run it again. The teacher listens every day, not just at lesson time.
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Stuck on a passage in Violin Concerto?
Name the passage and what it does wrong. Real fix in 30 seconds. Free to try, no card.
Name the passage that breaks