Wieniawski Polonaise Brilliante No. 2 Op. 21 for Violin and Orchestra

Henri Wieniawski composed two Polonaises The Polonaise No. 1, Op.4 in D-major, emerges as a youthful endeavor, while the Op.21 in A-major stands as one of his final compositions. Completed in 1870, the Polonaise in A-major debuted with orchestral accompaniment in St. Petersburg, followed by a piano-accompanied performance in Warsaw, showcasing Wieniawski's adaptability. The piece received critical acclaim from its inception, lauded as a "magnificent piece," a sentiment echoed in subsequent reviews across Russian and Western European publications. Published by Schott Publishers in Mainz around 1875, the Polonaise in A-major reveals a well-developed concert piece. The solo violin assumes a dominant role, with the orchestra primarily providing harmonic support. The middle fragment introduces contrast through a change in key and tempo, featuring a balanced dialogue between the instruments.