Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto no. 1 in Eb

performed by The London Symphony Orchestra under Claudio Abbado Martha Argerich, piano (from the Great Pianists of the 20th Century collection by Philips) I couldn’t find the above recording on YouTube, but this is Ms. Argerich with the Berlin Radio Symphony (this version is almost as good as the one I have become accustomed to listening to) “Das versteht ihr alle nicht, haha!” (None of you understand this, haha!)  Or at least how some say begins the opening of the first movement of this concerto. (It fits rhythmically). Regardless, this twenty-minute piece in four movements is one hell of a ride.  … Continue reading Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto no. 1 in Eb

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Piano Concerto in C#m, op. 30

performed by the English Northern Philharmonia under David Lloyd-Jones,Malcolm Binns, piano This is unquestionably a very Russian piece, but it is also unquestionably a Lisztian piece.It was completed around 1883 and first performed in 1884 at one of Balakirev’s Free Music School concerts in St. Petersburg, by whom I am not sure.I am learning I’m not super fond of this Balakirev guy. As ignorant as I am of his works overall (aside from Islamey, and that just barely), reading about him makes him sound quite knowledgable and insightful, but this may just be more as a result of his familiarity … Continue reading Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Piano Concerto in C#m, op. 30

Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 2, op. 16

performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Andre PrevinVladimir Ashkenazy, piano This was kind of Ashkenazy’s warhorse for a while I’m told. The Interwebs told me. This piece comes up often in the “hardest piano concerto ever” discussions that many an amateur like to have. I believe that comes from summing up the scope of the greatest challenge possible and putting things into perspective against it. Maybe. Anyway, Prok 2, Rach 2 and 3, Brahms 2, and Bartok 1 and 2 seem to be the ones that are most often agreed upon as being frighteningly, intensely difficult (obviously in different … Continue reading Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 2, op. 16