John Corigliano The Red Violin: Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra

Amalia Hall Violin
James Judd Conductor

Composer John Corigliano has become a prominent figure in American classical music. The son of former New York Philharmonic Concertmaster John Corigliano Sr., he studied at Columbia University and the Manhattan School of Music, developing a style that blends Romantic grandeur with modernist elements. His work has earned him the Grawemeyer Award, three Grammys, and a Pulitzer Prize.

Corigliano is best known for his Oscar-winning score for The Red Violin, which follows a cursed violin through three centuries. The music was largely composed before filming began, allowing actors to mimic playing it. Corigliano employed a chaconne—a repeating chord pattern—to unify the episodic story.

The score opens with ethereal woodwinds revealing the chaconne chords from the brass. It features Anna’s Theme, representing the violin maker’s wife, which is repeatedly fragmented and ultimately leads to a climactic portrayal of her tragic fate. A haunting flute solo and mourning oboe contrast with the return of the chaconne, symbolizing the violin's enduring curse. The work culminates in a chaotic coda, evoking the whispers of ghosts.