Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 (1st mvmt)

[viking]

Well, I finally decided to learn this beast.  I the two-piano reduction of the piece live last night, and it went alright, considering I've learned this pretty much in the last month.  Comments/critisizms are greatly appreciated.  And please, dont tell me I missed a note hear or there, because there are a couple of obvious places where I need to spend some more time.  But it's been a while since I've posted anything here and I thought I'd share something new.

Sam
https://www.mediafire.com/?3d5mzxurmac

[rachfan]

Hi viking,

I want to be the first to congratulate you on this fine performance.  You have a wonderful feeling for Prokofiev.  In your interpretation you bring a certain romantic approach to the score, which fits this concerto very well.  Many people think of Prokofiev as a percussive 20th century early modern composer.  That notwithstanding, he often infuses his idiom with a great deal of romantic lyricism and lush dissonant harmonies that you voice and bring out so well here.  Then too, when he truly calls for crisp, nonlegato and staccato treatment, you deliver it with flair as contrast.  I'm quite impressed with your fluent playing of the piece. 

I could never understand why this Second Concerto is seemingly eclipsed in the background.  The Third, of course, is a constant concert staple, and the First (not a mature work, but still high quality) gets barely an occasional hearing.  The 4th and 5th, I think, are the least known.  But the Second has so much merit, yet is neglected.  I don't have a CD of it, but I do have an old LP, the pianist being Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer who did a fine rendition (if memory serves, with Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony).

Lastly, I must say that I like the more transparent two-piano reduction sound a bit more than piano with orchestra!  There are inner lines you can hear much more distinctly and clearly this way that get buried in the thicker orchestral texture.  (Same with Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances--he wrote the duo-piano version first and then orchestrated it.  I'll stick with the two-piano version, thanks.)  Kudos too to the pianist who played Piano II for you.

Again, a super job after a mere month of learning and practicing!  I think as you live with this concerto longer, you'll continue to enhance your performance.  Hopefully, you'll be able to post the final movement here--the long coda has some breathtaking moments.  Only a fabulous pianist like Prokofiev could write a piano concerto like this one.  Few know it, but he could knock almost any pianist off the bench and outplay them--except for Rachmaninoff and Hofmann.

Thanks for posting this concerto!     

   

[pita bread]

Learned this in a month? Hot damn.

In the cadenza, I could use a little more power in those repeating chords leading up to the "Colossal" arpeggiated part. Otherwise, excellent performance.

[pianistimo]

you DO have a feel for prokofiev!  i was taken by your command of the piece for only a month.  i liked the flow of the thing.  and, that you don't overdo dynamics.  and the piano seems like a fine one.

[cz4p32]

One month!  Amazing performance.  this as was mentioned before is on of Prokofiev's greatest concertos, and much underplayed. 

did you learn the notes and memorize it in a month or were you playing with the music?

[mattgreenecomposer]

wow very nice!  I love this piece.  A bit of Gyorgy Sandor I saw there.  You tackled the tough sections well.  At the end, when the monster comes to eat you I wanted to hear more "low" the melody.  I know that was the other guy but just thought Id mention it.  thanks for posting.