Concerto no. 1 for Viola and Orchestra of Soloists, op. 108

This concerto was written for Paul Hindemith during the summer of 1929, in Aix-en-Provence. The first scoring was for a normal orchestra, this is how Hindemith performed it at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, under direction of Pierre Monteux, on January 15, 1929. Following the concert, Hindemith suggested to Milhaud to make a version for orchestra with soloists, because he had the opportunity to play with several orchestras.

Milhaud then made a second orchestral version, which was played by Hindemith under the direction of Milhaud himself in Frankfurt, 1930. Milhaud declared since then he always preferred this version for fifteen intruments: two flutes, one oboe, one bassoon, one horn, one trumpet, one trombone, percussion and strings and soloists.

The first audition in Vienna took place in November 1, 1931, with Marcel Dick under the direction of Anton Webern.