ClassicFM: 20 Greatest Piano Concertos
For the classical music lovers of DL, attached is a fun article on the twenty greatest piano concertos of all time.
While they are in particular order, I am curious what you think is the best?
I vote for Beethoven's titanic Piano Concerto No. 5, "The Emperor."
Rachmaninov's Second, Tchaikovsky's First, Brahms First and Second, Beethoven's Fourth, and Chopin's First I would put right after.
The worst, for me, is Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 2.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 13 | December 10, 2022 11:57 PM
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Each composer is unique, making it difficult to come up with a favorite. There are some that I feel are overplayed. For instance Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No2.
That Bartok concerto gives me conniption fits.
Sorry. I'm not a musician and wasn't a music major so I can't comment in the way you might be hoping for. I do love classical music, but beyond simply listening and enjoying, for the pure love of how it sounds and makes me feel, I'm a total layman.
by Anonymous | reply 1 | December 8, 2022 10:07 PM
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I like Mozart's last eight piano concertos most, from 19 to 27. I like the last movement of 22 in particular.
I like whichever of Rachmaninoff's has the riff Eric Carmen stole for "All by Myself."
I listen to classical radio, and I am so tired of Beethoven's PCs, I don't want to hear another for ten years. I know they are great music, but I've heard them too often.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 2 | December 8, 2022 11:09 PM
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Prokofiev #3 is in a class by itself. I love Schumann’s piano concerto as well.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | December 9, 2022 12:14 AM
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R3 Here. I posted before I even looked at the list and neither the Prokofiev nor the Schumann were included, but Shostakovich and Beethoven #3 made the list?!? WOW.
Anyway, here’s the final movement of the Prokofiev #3. It changed the whole concept of the piano concerto and is both revolutionary and accessible.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 4 | December 9, 2022 12:22 AM
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[quote]I like whichever of Rachmaninoff's has the riff Eric Carmen stole for "All by Myself."
That would be Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2, in the 2nd movement.
Also, I feel that one is the best concerto overall, because the themes are memorable and there is virtually no filler or wasted time. A theme in the 3rd movement also spawned another popular song, "Full Moon and Empty Arms."
In Prokofiev's 2nd piano concerto, the crazy 5-minute piano cadenza in the 1st movement ends with the orchestra re-entering the score in one of the great moments in music - it feels like you are standing on a landslide.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | December 9, 2022 12:23 AM
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I also like the Prokofiev #1 and the Barber Piano Concerto. I love all of the Bartok piano concertos. My favorite of all, though, is the Ginastera Piano Concerto - what an incredible piece!
by Anonymous | reply 6 | December 9, 2022 12:56 AM
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R1 I am not a music major and cannot read music either.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | December 9, 2022 4:41 AM
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Other great modern piano concertos are Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand, Benjamin Britten's Piano Concerto, George Gershwin's Piano Concerto, and Shostakovich's Concerto for Piano and Trumpet.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | December 9, 2022 4:35 PM
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Oscar Levant conducting himself playing Gershwin's Concerto in F (and sneaking in on the gong and marimba).
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 9 | December 10, 2022 12:50 AM
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Nothing personal, but I HATE piano concertos.
Sonatas only, please.
by Anonymous | reply 10 | December 10, 2022 12:52 AM
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R9 and all, what do we know about Oscar Levant? Was he considered a great pianist? I have heard he became an alcoholic later in life.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | December 10, 2022 9:32 PM
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JFC some Mozart, pls.
7:25 and following in the Allegro maestoso is miraculous.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 12 | December 10, 2022 10:10 PM
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Mozart's PCs 23 & 27 were my introduction to piano concertos, and I loved them.
I became interested in classical music when I heard Schubert's last piano sonata in a record store right after CDs started to become popular. It was being played by Alfred Brendel.
The store was having a sale on Polygram mid-price CDs, 3 for $25, so I had to pick two more. I knew Beethoven's 9th Symphony, so that was number two, and my friend who was with me told me I had to have Mozart, also played by Alfred Brendel. That was the beginning of a long obsession with classical music.
I've had Mozart PCs by Brendel, Perahia, Uchida, Gulda, Anda, Bilson, and others whose names escape me at the moment. I like all of them. I can't really tell the difference in a blind listening test who I am listening to (except the Bilson, of course, on fortepiano). The PCs are kind of like pizza—even when one isn't excellent, it's still pretty damned good.
I don't think I've listened to Ashkenazy before, r12, so thank you. (Oh, and yes, I had heard the "Elvira Madigan" movement before I knew what it was).
by Anonymous | reply 13 | December 10, 2022 11:57 PM
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