Violin Concerto no. 1 in G minor, op. 26

Bruch’s First Violin Concerto took shape gradually between 1866 and 1868. Its first performance, with Otto von Königslow and Bruch conducting, did not satisfy the composer. He then sought the advice of Joseph Joachim, whose active participation helped bring the work to its final form. Joachim gave the première of the revision in Bremen on 5 January 1868 under Karl Martin Reinthaler. Bruch dedicated the concerto to him and repeatedly acknowledged his part in its creation. Its union of lyric warmth, drama and virtuosity soon made it one of the defining violin concertos of the Romantic repertoire.