According to the music Publisher Schott, Martinů originally intended to publish his Sinfonia Concertante for Two Orchestras, H 219 under the heading of “Symphony”, but eventually abandoned the idea in favour of the more appropriate “Sinfonia concertante”. It was written in Paris, in the spring of 1932, and already attests to the composer’s penchant for the Baroque-style alternation of instrument sections – in this particular case mutually confronting two comparatively large orchestras, a somewhat extravagant combination which has perhaps acounted for the work’s less than frequent appearance on concert platforms and on records alike. Schott published the work in 1953, but its premiere did not take place until 1955 (Basel, Basler Orchestergesellschaft, conducted by Hans Münch).
Jaroslav Mihule, Martinů: Osud skladatele, Prague: Karolinum, 2002, p. 199.
Jana Honzíková, Martinů: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek, Prague: Supraphon, 2003.