How hard is the Gershwin Concerto in F?

[kriskicksass]

I'm just talking relatively. I've heard people say it's as difficult as the Rachmaninoff concerti, and as wonderful as it is I think that may be a bit exaggerated. Has anyone here played it before?

[pita bread]

I'm just talking relatively. I've heard people say it's as difficult as the Rachmaninoff concerti, and as wonderful as it is I think that may be a bit exaggerated. Has anyone here played it before?

Exaggerated. The sheets can be found in the e-library at  www.piano.ru if you want to see for yourself.

[arensky]

In terms of difficulty I would place it beneath the Rachmaninov Concerti, but more difficult than the Grieg Concerto. Pianists often underestimate Gershwin, they think "Oooohhh! I'm playing Jazz and that's fun and easier" No...it's not jazz it's classical music, his pianistic layouts are very complex and difficult, as well as being very individual, as much as any other composer. While this is not the hardest concerto in the repertoire, it is certainly not the easiest...

[apion]

It's a great masterpiece . . . . . you should learn it!

[kriskicksass]

I'm considering it, but I don't have the time now. And even if I did, I don't think I have the Gershwin experience required to do it justice. I'll have to talk to my teacher about it, too. Nice to hear that it's around the Grieg Concerto though, since that's the only concerto I've ever worked on (I dropped it about halfway through since I wasn't very interested).

[g_s_223]

How hard do people rate it to Rhapsody in Blue might be more directly relevant: that's not particularly easy by any means (in parts at least).