Concerto For Violin, Viola, And Cello = Konzert Für Violine, Viola Und Violoncello

Commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra to mark their 75th anniversary, this concerto was composed by Sir Michael Tippett in 1979 and completed in 1980. The work reflects Tippett’s characteristic lyrical complexity, blending intricate polyphony with the specific textural capabilities of the three solo instruments. It emerged during a period when the composer was revisiting more expansive, melodic forms, intentionally contrasting the individual voices of the violin, viola, and cello against the broader orchestral landscape.

The 1982 recording on the Philips label captures the premiere trio of soloists—György Pauk, Nobuko Imai, and Ralph Kirshbaum—performing alongside the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Colin Davis. This release is widely considered the definitive interpretation of the piece, as these musicians were the original dedicatees for whom Tippett tailored the specific technical requirements of the solo passages. Upon its release, the recording was praised for its crystalline production quality and the seamless integration between the soloists and Davis’s precise conducting.