The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G minor, Op. 33, is the only piano concerto by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. Written in 1876, it was the first of three concertos that Dvořák completed, followed by the Violin Concerto, Op. 53 from 1879 and the Cello Concerto, Op. 104, written in 1894–1895. The piano concerto is the least known and least performed of Dvořák's concertos.
Page from Dvořák's Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33
As the eminent music critic Harold C. Schonberg put it, Dvořák wrote "an attractive Piano Concerto in G minor with a rather ineffective piano part, a beautiful Violin Concerto in A minor, and a supreme Cello Concerto in B minor".[1]
Dvořák composed his piano concerto from late August through 14 September 1876. Its autograph version contains many corrections, erasures, cuts and additions, the bulk of which were made in the piano part. The work was premiered in Prague on 24 March 1878, with the orchestra of the Prague Provisional Theatre conducted by Adolf Čech with the pianist Karel Slavkovsky. The first performance in England was with soloist Oscar Beringer at the Crystal Palace on October 13 1883.[2]
While working on the concerto, Dvořák himself realized that he had not created a virtuosic piece in which the piano does battle with the orchestra. Dvořák wrote: "I see I am unable to write a Concerto for a virtuoso; I must think of other things." What Dvořák composed instead was a symphonic concerto in which the piano plays a leading part in the orchestra, rather than opposed to it.
In an effort to mitigate awkward passages and expand the pianist's range of sonorities, the Czech pianist and pedagogue Vilém Kurz undertook an extensive rewriting of the solo part; the Kurz revision is frequently performed today.
The concerto was championed for many years by the noted Czech pianist Rudolf Firkušný, who played it with many different conductors and orchestras around the world before his death in 1994. Once a student of Kurz, Firkušný performed the revised solo part for much of his life, turning towards the original Dvořák score later on in his concert career.
In discussing the piano music of Franz Liszt, the pianist Leslie Howard, who has recorded all of it, notes: "... there is nothing in Liszt that is anywhere near as difficult to play as the Dvořák Piano Concerto - a magnificent piece of music, but one of the most ungainly bits of piano writing ever printed".[3]
Allegro con fuoco: G minor → G major (about 11 minutes)
A typical performance of the work lasts 38–40 minutes.
Selected discographyedit
Sviatoslav Richter: Dvořák's Piano Concerto & Schubert's "Wanderer" Fantasy. Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by Carlos Kleiber. EMI Great Recordings of the Century (catalog no. 66947)
Radoslav Kvapil: Dvořák: Piano Concerto, Op.33. Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra (Brno) conducted by František Jilek. Supraphon, 1996.
piano, concerto, dvořák, concerto, piano, orchestra, minor, only, piano, concerto, czech, composer, antonín, dvořák, written, 1876, first, three, concertos, that, dvořák, completed, followed, violin, concerto, from, 1879, cello, concerto, written, 1894, 1895, . The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G minor Op 33 is the only piano concerto by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak Written in 1876 it was the first of three concertos that Dvorak completed followed by the Violin Concerto Op 53 from 1879 and the Cello Concerto Op 104 written in 1894 1895 The piano concerto is the least known and least performed of Dvorak s concertos Page from Dvorak s Piano Concerto in G minor Op 33As the eminent music critic Harold C Schonberg put it Dvorak wrote an attractive Piano Concerto in G minor with a rather ineffective piano part a beautiful Violin Concerto in A minor and a supreme Cello Concerto in B minor 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Form 3 Selected discography 4 References 5 External linksBackground editDvorak composed his piano concerto from late August through 14 September 1876 Its autograph version contains many corrections erasures cuts and additions the bulk of which were made in the piano part The work was premiered in Prague on 24 March 1878 with the orchestra of the Prague Provisional Theatre conducted by Adolf Cech with the pianist Karel Slavkovsky The first performance in England was with soloist Oscar Beringer at the Crystal Palace on October 13 1883 2 While working on the concerto Dvorak himself realized that he had not created a virtuosic piece in which the piano does battle with the orchestra Dvorak wrote I see I am unable to write a Concerto for a virtuoso I must think of other things What Dvorak composed instead was a symphonic concerto in which the piano plays a leading part in the orchestra rather than opposed to it In an effort to mitigate awkward passages and expand the pianist s range of sonorities the Czech pianist and pedagogue Vilem Kurz undertook an extensive rewriting of the solo part the Kurz revision is frequently performed today The concerto was championed for many years by the noted Czech pianist Rudolf Firkusny who played it with many different conductors and orchestras around the world before his death in 1994 Once a student of Kurz Firkusny performed the revised solo part for much of his life turning towards the original Dvorak score later on in his concert career In discussing the piano music of Franz Liszt the pianist Leslie Howard who has recorded all of it notes there is nothing in Liszt that is anywhere near as difficult to play as the Dvorak Piano Concerto a magnificent piece of music but one of the most ungainly bits of piano writing ever printed 3 Form editThe concerto is scored for solo piano and an orchestra consisting of 2 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons 2 horns 2 trumpets timpani and strings It has three movements Allegro agitato about 18 minutes Andante sostenuto in D major about 9 minutes Allegro con fuoco G minor G major about 11 minutes A typical performance of the work lasts 38 40 minutes Selected discography editSviatoslav Richter Dvorak s Piano Concerto amp Schubert s Wanderer Fantasy Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by Carlos Kleiber EMI Great Recordings of the Century catalog no 66947 Radoslav Kvapil Dvorak Piano Concerto Op 33 Czech State Philharmonic Orchestra Brno conducted by Frantisek Jilek Supraphon 1996 Rustem Hayroudinoff with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Gianandrea Noseda Chandos Records catalogue no CHAN 10309 Also on this CD is the Violin Concerto performed by James Ehnes Ivo Kahanek Dvorak amp Martinu Piano Concertos Bamberg Symphony conducted by Jakub Hrusa Supraphon SU 4236 5 On this CD with the Piano concerto No 4 by Bohuslav Martinu 2020 BBC Music Magazine Awards winning recording in category Concerto Award 4 References edit The Lives of the Great Composers W W Norton amp Company New York revised edition 1980 Clapham John Dvorak s First Contacts with England in The Musical Times Vol 119 No 1627 September 1978 pp 758 761 Lisztomania Leslie Howard s interview with Frances Merson Limelight April 2011 p 18 archived from the original Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine 23 November 2014 The winners of the 2020 BBC Music Magazine Awards External links editAbout Piano Concerto on a comprehensive Dvorak site Dvorak Piano Concerto Twins Review of recording of concerto in its original version by Radoslav Kvapil and in its Kurz edition by Ivan Moravec Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piano Concerto Dvorak amp oldid 1197652308, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
