Piano Concerto No. 1

  Proto-romanticism in piano concertos:

         Mozart  -  Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491   (1786)   (6:00)

                    Murray Perahia, piano. Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra


   Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11   ( 1830, pub. 1834)    

                                      A very good article on this concerto

         Martha Argerich, piano.  NHK Orchestra, Charles Dutoit, cond.  (1996)


         Although labeled Concerto No. 1, it was actually composed about 6 months after 

         the one known as Concerto No. 2.  This one is called No. 1 because it was published 

         before the other.

         While this concerto is generally popular, the critical reaction to it is mixed.  While 

         many see it as a fine concerto, some criticize the orchestration as dry and boring, 

         with the integration of the orchestra with the piano less sophisticated than say that 

         of Mozart's or Beethoven's piano concertos.  Despite this criticism, Concerto No. 1 

         regularly gets performed and recorded by world renowned pianists.


                1.  Allegro maestoso  (19:00)

                2.  Romanze – Larghetto (E major)  (9:30)

                3.  Rondo – Vivace in E major  (9:10)

          A Krakowiak (or Cracovienne in Paris) is a fast, syncopated Polish folk dance 
          in duple time from the region of Kraków and Lesser Poland.  The folk outfit 
          worn for the dance has become the national costume of Poland, most notably,  
          the rogatywka peaked hat with peacock feathers.