Saint-Saëns - Introduction et rondo capriccioso, Op. 28 (PDF Sheet Music / Digital Download)

Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28, written in 1863, stands as one of the hallmark showpieces of the Romantic violin repertoire. Originally intended to serve as the finale for his First Violin Concerto, the French composer published it as a standalone concert piece following its reception at the 1867 premiere. Dedicated to the Spanish virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate, the composition is tailored to showcase expressive lyrical beauty alongside dazzling technical agility. The work opens with a brooding Andante malinconico, where the soloist weaves syncopated melodies over subtle orchestral support. This transitions into a lively, Spanish-flavored Allegro ma non troppo rondo defined by crisp staccato bowings, rapid scalar passages, and playful rhythmic shifts. Blending French sophistication with Iberian flair, the piece culminates in an exhilarating A-major coda that demands supreme virtuosity from the soloist.

This edition is a reissue of music originally published by Georges Hartmann, Paris.