Although a concerto is usually a piece of music for one or more solo instruments accompanied by a full orchestra, several composers have written works with the apparently contradictory title Concerto for Orchestra. This title is usually chosen to emphasise soloistic and virtuosic treatment of various individual instruments or sections in the orchestra, with emphasis on instruments changing during the piece. It differs from sinfonia concertante in that it has no soloist or group of soloists that remains the same throughout the composition.
A well-known concerto for orchestra is Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra (1943), although the title had been used several times before. Goffredo Petrassi made the concerto for orchestra something of a speciality, writing eight of them since 1933. He finished the last one in 1972.
For symphony orchestra This list is chronological. Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 38, by Paul Hindemith (1925)Concerto for Orchestra, Paul Hindemith, Schott Music Concerto for Orchestra, by Lucijan Marija Škerjanc (1926) Concerto for Orchestra, by Vagn Holmboe (1929)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/46620/Concerto-for-Orchestra--Vagn-Holmboe/ Concerto for Orchestra, by Tadeusz Szeligowski (1930) Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 43, by Adolf Busch (published 1931)"Busch, Adolf", Hofmeisters Musikalisch-literarischer Monatsbericht, January 1931, p. 56 Concerto for Orchestra, by Gian Francesco Malipiero (1931) Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 24, by Knudåge Riisager (1931) Philharmonic Concerto, by Paul Hindemith (1932) Concerto per orchestra in Do maggiore, by Mario Pilati (1933) Concerto for Orchestra, by Walter Piston (1933)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/31562/Concerto-for-Orchestra--Walter-Piston/, which is based in part on Hindemith's work Concerto for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1934) Concerto per orchestra, Op. 61, by Alfredo Casella (1937) Concerto for Orchestra, by Zoltán Kodály (1939–40) Concerto for Orchestra in one movement, by Ellis Kohs (1941)https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/753352 Concerto for Orchestra (Based on Red Army Themes), by Richard Mohaupt (1942–43) Concerto for Orchestra, by Béla Bartók (1943) Concerto for Orchestra, by Morton Gould (1944)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/28305/Concerto-for-Orchestra--Morton-Gould/ Concerto for Orchestra, by Ulysses Kay (1948)https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/753123 Concerto No. 1 for Orchestra 'Arevakal', Op. 88, by Alan Hovhaness (1951) Concerto No. 2 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1951) Concerto No. 4 for Orchestra, Op. 98, No. 2, by Alan Hovhaness (1952) Concerto No. 7 for Orchestra, Op. 116, by Alan Hovhaness (1953) Concerto No. 3 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1953) Concerto for Orchestra, by Tadeusz Baird (1953)https://search.worldcat.org/title/1128365144 Concerto for Orchestra, by Witold Lutosławski (1950–54), which won him the UNESCO 1st prize in 1963. Concerto for Orchestra, "À Darius Milhaud" by Alexandre Tansman (1954) Concerto No. 4 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1954) Concerto for Orchestra, by Howard Swanson (1954)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/33514/Concerto-for-Orchestra--Howard-Swanson/ Concerto for Orchestra, by Anatol Vieru (1954–55) Concerto No. 5 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1955) Concerto No. 8 for Orchestra, Op. 117, by Alan Hovhaness (1957) Concerto No. 6 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1957) Concerto for Orchestra, by Arnold Walter (1958)https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/1036039 Concerto for Orchestra, by Carlos Surinach (1959)https://search.worldcat.org/title/2224016 Concerto for Orchestra (in One Movement), by Theron Kirk (1960)https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/753159 Concerto for Orchestra, by Giya Kancheli (1961) Concerto for Orchestra, by Benjamin Lees (1961)https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Benjamin-Lees-Concerto-for-Orchestra/3114 Concerto for Orchestra, by Grażyna Bacewicz (1962) Concerto for Orchestra, by Michael Tippett (1962–63) Concerto No. 7 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1963–64) Concerto for Orchestra No. 1, Naughty Limericks, by Rodion Shchedrin (1963) Concerto for Orchestra, by Havergal Brian (1964) Métaboles, by Henri Dutilleux (1964) Concerto for Orchestra, by Nikolai Lopatnikoff (1964)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/73535/Concerto-for-Orchestra--Nikolai-Lopatnikoff/ Concerto for orchestra, by Akira Miyoshi (1964) Concerto for Orchestra, by Robert Gerhard (1965) Concerto for Orchestra No. 1, Gala Music, by Gunther Schuller (1966) Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 8, by Robin Holloway (1967) Concerto for Orchestra, by Thea Musgrave (1967) Satire: Concerto for Orchestra, by Ezra Laderman (1968)https://search.worldcat.org/title/1468818 Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, The Chimes, by Rodion Shchedrin (1968) Concerto for Orchestra by Oliver Knussen (1969) Concerto for Orchestra, by Elliott Carter (1969) Concerto for Orchestra, by Dimitar Tapkoff (1969) Concerto for Orchestra, by Samuel Adler (1971)https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Samuel-Adler-Concerto-for-Orchestra/4562 Concerto for Orchestra by Aleksandra Pakhmutova (1971) Concerto No. 8 for Orchestra, by Goffredo Petrassi (1970–72) Concerto for Orchestra (Carpathian), by Myroslav Skoryk (1972)https://www.dumamusic.com/myroslav-skoryk/skoryk-concerto-for-orchestra-carpathian/ Concerto for Orchestra, by Richard Rodney Bennett (1973), Concerto for Orchestra, Richard Rodney Bennett, Wise Music Group Concerto for orchestra, by Anthony Payne (1974)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/8439/Concerto-for-Orchestra--Anthony-Payne/ Philharmonic Concerto, Op. 120, by Malcolm Arnold (1976) Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, by Gunther Schuller (1976) Second Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 40, by Robin Holloway (1978) Concerto for Orchestra, by Henri Lazarof (1978)https://search.worldcat.org/title/5375403 Concerto Festivo, for orchestra without conductor, by Andrzej Panufnik (1979) Concerto for Orchestra, by Roger Sessions (1979–81), which won him the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1982. Concerto for Orchestra, by Paul Patterson (composer) (1981)https://paulpatterson.co.uk/concerto-for-orchestra-opus-45-1981/ Concerto for Orchestra (Suite), by Alexandre Tansman (1981) Concerto for Orchestra, by John McCabe (1982) Concerto for Orchestra, by Stephen Paulus (1983)Concerto for Orchestra, Stephen Paulus, Schott Music Concerto for Orchestra, by Edward Gregson (1983) (revised versions 1989 and 2001) Concerto for Orchestra, by Robert Saxton (1984) Concerto for Orchestra No. 3, Farbenspiel, by Gunther Schuller (1985) Concerto for Orchestra, by Alun Hoddinott (1986) Concerto for Orchestra, by Karel Husa (1986) Second Concerto for Orchestra: Icarus, by Henri Lazarof (1986)https://www.presser.com/446-41050-2nd-concerto-for-orchestra.html Concerto for Orchestra, by Shulamit Ran (1986)https://www.presser.com/416-41125-concerto-for-orchestra.html Concerto for Orchestra No. 1, by Steven Stucky (1986–87) Concerto for Orchestra, by Leonard Bernstein (1986–89), which is also known as "Jubilee Games" for orchestra and baritone. Third Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 80, by Robin Holloway (1981–94) Concerto for Orchestra (Variations without a theme), by Denys Bouliane (1985–95) Concerto for Orchestra, by John Biggs (1988) https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/sku/CP311 Concerto for Double Orchestra, by Ezra Laderman (1989)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/29949/Concerto-for-Double-Orchestra--Ezra-Laderman/ Concerto for Orchestra No. 3, Old Russian Circus Music, by Rodion Shchedrin (1989) Concerto for Orchestra No. 4, Round Dances (Khorovody), by Rodion Shchedrin (1989) Concerto for Orchestra, by Joan Tower (1991) Concerto for Orchestra – Zoroastrian Riddles, by Richard Danielpour (1996) Strathclyde Concerto No. 10: Concerto for Orchestra, by Peter Maxwell Davies (1996) Concerto for Orchestra, by Dinos Constantinideshttps://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/1482166 (1997) Concerto for Orchestra No. 5, Four Russian Songs, by Rodion Shchedrin (1998) Concerto for Orchestra (reseated), by Augusta Read Thomas (1998) Concerto for Orchestra, by Stanisław Skrowaczewski (1999) Boston Concerto, by Elliott Carter (2002) Concerto for Orchestra by Jennifer Higdon (2002) Yi°: Concerto for Orchestra, by Tan Dun (2002) Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 81 by Lowell Liebermann (2002)https://www.lowellliebermann.com/op81-concerto-for-orchestra Concerto for Orchestra, by Magnus Lindberg (2003)https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Magnus-Lindberg-Concerto-for-Orchestra/15288 Second Concerto for Orchestra, by Steven Stucky (2003), which won him the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2005 Concerto for Orchestra, by David Horne (2003–04) Concerti for Orchestra, by Milton Babbitt (2004) Concierto para orquestra, by Agustí Charles (2004) Concerto for Orchestra: Zodiac Tales, by Bright Sheng (2005, rev. 2016)https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/25481/Concerto-for-Orchestra-Zodiac-Tales--Bright-Sheng/ Fourth Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 101 by Robin Holloway (2004–06) Concerto for Orchestra by Fabian Müller (2007-2008) Concerto for Orchestra, by Christopher Rouse (2007–2008) Concerto for Orchestra, by Rolf Martinsson (2008) Symphony No. 5 (Concerto for Orchestra), by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (2008) Fifth Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 107, by Robin Holloway (2009–10) Cascade (Symphony No. 2), Concerto for Orchestra, by Douglas Knehans (2010)https://webshop.donemus.com/action/front/sheetmusic/21292 Morning in Long Island, Concert No. 1 for orchestra, by Pascal Dusapin (2011) Concerto for Orchestra, by Marc Neikrug (2012) Morpheus, by Søren Nils Eichberg (2012) Godai; The five elements, Concerto for orchestra by Benjamin Staern (2012–13) , by Thierry Escaich (2014) Concerto for Orchestra, by John Plant (2014)https://www.johnplantcomposer.com/audio Concerto for Orchestra, by Michael Torke (2014)https://michael-torke.squarespace.com/concerto-for-orchestra Concerto for Orchestra, by Carl Vine (2014)https://www.fabermusic.com/music/concerto-for-orchestra FLEX, Concerto for Orchestra, by Sebastian Currier (2015)https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Sebastian-Currier-FLEX/101580 Concerto for Orchestra, by Zhou Tian (2016) Walkabout: Concerto for Orchestra, by Gabriela Lena Frank (2016) Concerto for Orchestra, by André Previn (2016) Hominum—Concerto for Orchestra, by Gabriela Ortiz (2016) SPIRA, by Unsuk Chin (2019) Torus, Concerto for Orchestra, by Emily Howard (2019) https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/64930/Torus-Concerto-for-Orchestra--Emily-Howard/ Concerto for Orchestra, by Eric Nathan (2019)https://www.ericnathanmusic.com/concerto-for-orchestra Concerto for Orchestra, by George Benjamin (2021), Concerto for Orchestra, George Benjamin.Faber Music Concerto for Curved Space, by Steven Mackey (2022)https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Steven-Mackey-Concerto-for-Curved-Space/104449 Concerto for Orchestra, by Kevin Puts (2022)https://www.kevinputs.com/works/concerto-for-orchestra Cloud slant, after three paintings by Helen Frankenthaler: Concerto for Orchestra, by Kenneth Fuchs (2023)https://search.worldcat.org/title/1425865647 Concerto for Orchestra, by Robin Haigh (2023) Concerto for Orchestra, by James MacMillan (2023)https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/James-MacMillan-Concerto-for-Orchestra/110646 Wake Up! Concerto for Orchestra, by Carlos Simon (2023)https://www.carlossimonmusic.com/works/wake-up-concerto-for-orchestra Classic of Mountains and Seas Concerto for Orchestra, by Zhou Long (2024)https://www.presser.com/116-42169s-classic-of-mountains-and-seas.html Concerto for Orchestra, by Brian Raphael Nabors (2024)https://www.briannabors.com/compositions-with-sound-only/concerto-for-orchestra Concerto for Orchestra, by Huw Watkins (2024–25) Concerto for Orchestra, by Michael Berkeley (2025)https://search.worldcat.org/title/1524203520 Concerto for Orchestra, by Wynton Marsalis (2025)https://wyntonmarsalis.org/compositions
For string orchestra