The first concert work Rózsa wrote upon emigrating to the United States, the fraught Concerto for String Orchestra may be heard as a lament for his disrupted Hungary. The melodies all carry what the composer called a "Hungarian accent," and this work could be mistaken for dour Kodály or unpercussive Bartók. Intense lyricism suffuses the concerto, but it is the lyricism of Hungary rather than Hollywood.

The tough-minded first movement—Moderato, ma risoluto ed energico—contrapuntally develops two brooding themes. These themes occasionally rise to vehemence within Rózsa's sonata-allegro structure, but avoid a really slashing intensity. The solo viola introduces the second movement—Lento con gran espressione—with a haunting, folk-like melody. The feeling here is nostalgic, possibly elegiac, depending on the performance. The viola, this time accompanied by solo cello, also ushers in the second theme, which is much in the same mood and could be heard as a variation on the first motif. After a passionate climax, pitting the violins against the massed violas, cellos, and basses playing in octaves, the music recedes into a muted viola solo. The final movement—Allegro giusto—abounds with contrapuntal acrobatics. The main theme, syncopated and dance-like, is carried by the violins, and calls to mind parts of Bartók's Divertimento for Strings. The second theme, light-spirited if not exactly happy, is interrupted by a fugato episode that rumbles out of the lower strings, initially like a minuet for curmudgeonly elephants. This material builds gradually in texture and speed, and eventually even the first movement's main theme weaves its way into the finale's counterpoint.

The Concerto for String Orchestra, which is dedicated to the composer's wife, can accommodate a number of interpretations. It may validly be presented as a more serious counterpart to Bartók's spirited, highly accessible Divertimento, or it may take on a special urgency as a fierce musical essay on wartime Hungary. In any case, it speaks frankly and directly to a wide audience.

© James Reel, All Music Guide