Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 1

performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy with the London Symphony Orchestra under Andre Previn  I really like Mr. Ashkenazy. He’s such a nice guy, it seems. There seems to be not an ounce of pride or ego in the man, just a … Continue reading Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 1

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