Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf

Concerto C Major Krebs 157 No. 10

Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739-1799) drew attention to himself even as a child due to his musical talent: At the age of seven he took violin lessons, only three years later he was hired as a violinist in Vienna and played little solos. His numerous compositions and particularly his 'singspiels' (song-plays) were very popular with the audience: Ditters von Dittersdorf's comedy 'Der Apotheker und der Doktor' even outdid Mozart's 'Le nozze di Figaro' in contemporary popularity in 1786. In 1766 Dittersdorf wrote the Violin Concerto in C major while being in service as leader of a music band in Großwardein, a post he had accepted in succession to Michael Haydn. The solo part was probably played by the composer himself at the first performance. The concerto is a work that is fun to play: A pleasant, particularly concertante Allegro moderato is followed by a playful cantabile Andante and a Presto as virtuoso finale.