Violin Concerts in 2025 & 2026
The violin is the instrument that tugs at your heartstrings – no sound moves you quite like it. If you want to experience that, the 2025–2026 season offers a true feast with our orchestra. Discover five of the most beautiful violin concertos ever written.
In the 2025–26 concert season, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra presents five of the greatest violin concertos, performed by world-class soloists. Each concert features a classical masterpiece composed by one of the greats of music history. We’ve listed the concerts below in random order. Curious to know more about the stories behind these works? Read on after the concert agenda.
These violin concerts are among the finest
- Shostakovich's Leningrad (violin concert Tchaikovsky)
- Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovich
- Dvořák and Bartók
- Simone Lamsma plays Brahms
- Proms: The Four Seasons Recomposed
Shostakovitch's Leningrad
Vioolconcert Tsjaikovski
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto is one of the most beloved and stirring concertos ever written. Though it was harshly criticized at its 1881 premiere—deemed unplayable and pretentious—it has become a cornerstone of the violin repertoire. Its passionate solos, Russian dance influences, and explosive finale make it a highlight for any violinist. In the hands of Daniel Lozakovich, the work gains an extra dimension. Praised as a child prodigy, he is now regarded as one of the most fascinating violinists of his generation.
NRC wrote: “The talent of 22-year-old violinist Daniel Lozakovich is incredible.” ★★★★
Concert dates: 9 and 12 October 2025. Order your tickets now.
Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovitch
Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1
Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto is a dark and emotionally charged masterpiece, written during a period of political repression. Composed in 1947–1948, under Stalin’s regime, Shostakovich was forced to hide the score in a drawer for fear of censorship. Patricia Kopatchinskaja brings the underlying tension to life with her uncompromising expression and instinctive playing.
Concert date: 28 November 2025. Order your tickets now.
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Daniel Lozakovich on violin
Dvořák and Bartók
Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2
Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto is considered one of the great violin concertos—a masterpiece that blends Hungarian folk music with modern melodic lines. Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang brings this piece to life. Discovered at a young age, she made her debut at twelve.
The Guardian wrote: “Her playing radiates exciting authority and confidence in what is technically one of the most demanding concertos in the violin repertoire.” ★★★★★
Concert dates: 15 and 16 January 2026. Order your tickets now.
Proms: The Four Seasons Recomposed
Max Richter's The Four Seasons Recomposed
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is one of the most iconic works in classical music—but Max Richter has completely reimagined it in his The Four Seasons Recomposed. The idea for this piece arose when Richter realized he had heard Vivaldi’s Four Seasons so many times that he no longer truly heard it. Wanting to resolve his love-hate relationship with the work, he set out to rediscover the original by reshaping it.
Richter kept the essence of Vivaldi’s masterpiece but rearranged its melodies and harmonies in a hypnotic, minimalist style. Known for his film scores for Arrival, Shutter Island and Black Mirror, Richter creates with this composition a bridge between baroque and contemporary ambient soundscapes.
His version has already been featured in films and series such as Bridgerton, The Crown and My Brilliant Friend, attracting both classical music aficionados and new audiences. The Guardian described his approach as “like seeing a sculpture from a different angle”—a fresh, cinematic reinterpretation of a centuries-old masterpiece.
This concert will take place on 10 April 2026. Order your tickets now.
Magische vioolklanken in The Four Seasons Recomposed
