Pacific Symphony with Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Matthew Halls

The largest orchestra formed in the United States in the last 50 years, based in Orange County, California, and recognized for its artistic excellence, community engagement, and innovative programming.

The Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 is a celebrated classical work composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1878 in Clarens, Switzerland. Written with technical assistance from violinist Iosif Kotek while the composer recovered from a disastrous marriage, the piece initially faced harsh criticism—including a famous review by Eduard Hanslick stating it stank to the ear—following its 1881 premiere by Adolf Brodsky, but it has since become one of the most popular and frequently performed violin concertos in the classical repertoire.