Tag: concerto

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Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in Cm, op. 18

Fugue for Thought

performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Jascha Horenstein, Earl Wild, piano This may not be the most popular version of the work, but it’s the one I ‘learned’ this piece from; it’s the one I came to love this piece as a result of, and no other performance compares. It may be a bit brisker than a few other interpretations, but it’s perfect. These people knew what they were doing.  and this is a must-watch   Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 (Nikolai Lugansky) from Philharmonia Orchestra on Vimeo. So…. This is an important piece. I’d been thinking what to … Continue reading Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in Cm, op. 18

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Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in Am, op. 16

Fugue for Thought

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vmUPl7Pv0Zg&source=uds performed by the Seoul Philharmonic under James Judd, Valentina Lisitsa, piano (I wanted to find a video or recording of her performance here in Taipei from back in October 2013, but the best I could do was this rather useless ad) Can you think of any other piano concerti in Am? Schumann? Very good. What about Mrs. Schumann? Also very good. The first one is the more important, and while Grieg had it in mind (to some extent or other) during the composition of his own piano concerto (both of them having only written one piano concerto, Grieg not … Continue reading Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in Am, op. 16

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Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto no. 1 in Eb

Fugue for Thought

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

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

Fugue for Thought

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

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Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 2, op. 16

Fugue for Thought

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

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Concert Review: Valentina Lisitsa in Taipei

Fugue for Thought

I am working on kind of a two-part post I started last week. Been through a few listenings of each work, and am preparing more thoughts, but there is something else to share firstly. I was thrilled to buy tickets to see Ms. Valentina Lisitsa here in Taipei in our very own national concert hall. I went ahead and bought better seats. “Second floor” is the first floor of the auditorium, at the same level as the stage, and we were on the 19th row, just left of center, perfect place to see the blurs that were Ms. Lisitsa’s hands … Continue reading Concert Review: Valentina Lisitsa in Taipei

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Bela Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 166

Fugue for Thought

This article has been marked as in need of a revisit. That’s where I feel like I didn’t do the piece justice or have more to say (usually because I didn’t know it nearly well enough or didn’t have the right perspective). I’ll keep the original article for posterity, but publish a new version that will eventually be linked here for my new take on it. performed by the Cleveland Orchestra under Christoph von Dohnányi AND NOW for something completely different. I was thinking of listening to the Grieg piano concerto, which I will be hearing Ms. Valentina Lisitsa her … Continue reading Bela Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 166