Mozart - Adagio in E for Violin and Orchestra

A lone violin piece that replaced one of Mozart's concerto movements, this piece has become legendary in its own right.

In addition to his five complete violin concertos, Mozart composed a few separate movements. After playing the Concerto No. 5, Italian virtuoso Antonio Brunetti wasn't satisfied with the slow movement, and requested a replacement. And a good job he did too, as the beautiful Adagio in E was born.

Scored, as you might expect, for violin and orchestra, it's notable for its particularly lithe and long melodic passages. For violinists, it's one of those make or break performance pieces - it's not technically too challenging, but it's a case of making every note count and connecting with the emotion as fully as possible. And, like with so many Mozart pieces, there's far more going on in there than you first think.