Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor: 2026 Concert Listings
By Felix Mendelssohn · March 25, 2026
The Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64, is Felix Mendelssohn’s most performed orchestral work. It premiered in Leipzig on March 13, 1845, with Ferdinand David as soloist and Niels Gade conducting. The concerto appears in orchestral programs worldwide throughout the year. This article covers 2026 performances listed in the portal’s database.
About the Work
The Violin Concerto in E minor is scored for solo violin and orchestra in three movements. The first movement (Allegro molto appassionato) opens with the violin immediately, without orchestral introduction — an unusual feature for its time. The three movements are connected without pauses.
The concerto requires considerable technical demands of the soloist across all three movements. The lyrical second movement (Andante) and the energetic finale (Allegretto non troppo) are the most frequently excerpted sections in programs and recordings. The complete work runs approximately 27 to 30 minutes in performance.
2026 Performances
United States
The Cleveland Orchestra: Antonello Manacorda — Hadelich Plays Mendelssohn — Cleveland, Ohio (March 6). Violinist Augustin Hadelich performs the concerto with The Cleveland Orchestra under conductor Antonello Manacorda. The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the major American orchestras, and this program represents a notable programming of the concerto in the spring 2026 season.
Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony — Rohnert Park, California (January 13). Programs listing the Italian Symphony frequently pair it with other Mendelssohn works. Where violin concerto and symphony programming overlap in a single season is common for major orchestras.
Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony — Aiken, South Carolina (January 25). The Aiken Symphony’s January programming includes Mendelssohn orchestral works.
Turning Points: Faust + Sousa + Mendelssohn — Beverly Hills, California (March 13). A mixed program that includes Mendelssohn works alongside other composers.
Germany
Festkonzert im Schloss Nymphenburg — Mendelssohn & Dvořák — Munich (March 16). A concert at Nymphenburg Palace featuring Mendelssohn and Dvořák. Concert programs that pair Mendelssohn’s violin concerto with Dvořák works are common in orchestral programming.
Liaison extraordinaire: Mendelssohn — Dusseldorf (May 31). A program at a Dusseldorf concert hall dedicated to Mendelssohn’s orchestral output.
CON SPIRITO: Mendelssohn Tunes — Leipzig (September 20). Leipzig is historically connected to the concerto’s premiere. The Gewandhaus Orchestra, which premiered the work in 1845, continues to program Mendelssohn’s works regularly.
Australia
Melbourne hosts several Mendelssohn events in 2026. Australia lists 9 events in the database, with Melbourne as the primary location.
The Concerto in Context
The Violin Concerto in E minor is one of three concerti that form the core of the standard violin repertoire alongside the Brahms and Tchaikovsky concertos. Its consistent programming across orchestras worldwide reflects its position in the repertoire.
The work is included in most professional violin programs at an advanced training level. Concertmaster auditions and young artist competitions regularly include the Mendelssohn concerto as a required or optional work.
Finding Concert Listings
The portal’s concert category page lists all tracked orchestral events. Many orchestra programs feature multiple Mendelssohn works in a single program, and the portal captures events where Mendelssohn is the named focus. Events where Mendelssohn appears alongside other composers are captured where the program information is available.
Data from Felix Mendelssohn portal. 155 events tracked across 20 countries.