Beethoven Concertos

[Ecthelion]

Hello,

I really like playing Beethoven (Sonatas, Bagatelles, ...), but I question how difficult his concertos are. How are his piano concertos technically (not musically) to play? How high is the level of them compared with his big Sonatas (for example op. 57, op. 111, etc.)? I like all his concertos but the especially the Emperor...

regards,

Ecthelion

[Dave_2004_G]

I've seen somewhere that the first three are similar to things like pathetique in terms of difficulty, whilst 4 nad 5 shouldn't present problems if you can play sonatas like op. 57....I hope that's the case because I also plan to learn at least the first movement of emperor soon

Dave

[anda]

5th is one of the most difficult concertos ever written - maybe not as much technically, but it's difficult to sustain (psychologically) and to comprehend. 4th... it's 2nd part is one of the most incredible things ever written - it's called orpheus over here (the piano taming the orchestra). if you've played some of the last sonatas (op. 101, 106, 109, 110, 111) you should definitely try, but i suggest you first beethoven concert be 1st or 2nd, then try 4th or 5th.

best luck

[rohansahai]

Yep, fifth is definitely the most difficult followed closely by the fourth, which is my favourite.

[Beet9]

Well, I think the concertos are more difficult than the sonatas (exception - hammerklavier) just because they are longer.
I've done the Beethoven no. 1, and it is not excessively difficult.  I know that no. 2 is easier, and that 3 is more difficult than 1 and 2.  
But I think the problems of the 4 and 5 are mainly interpretation and musical problems.  Otherwise, technically, they are not much more difficult than the earlier ones.  
If you can play some of the more difficult piano sonatas, then I say go for it!!

[e60m5]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Anda here.

The Fifth Concerto is not difficult compared to much of the concerto literature out there. Sonatas such as Op.53 and Op.57 are harder.

[anda]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with Anda here.

The Fifth Concerto is not difficult compared to much of the concerto literature out there. Sonatas such as Op.53 and Op.57 are harder.

i agree - sonatas like the appassionata or hammerklavier or 110-111 are just as difficult as the 5th concerto, maybe even more difficult (technically). but try actually playing the 5th - i mean really playing it... i know i'd go nuts

[camejia]

Last weekend I saw a Concerto Concert with the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra.  Young pianists in the under 13 group played Beethoven's 1st piano concerto, and the under 18 group played Beethoven's 3rd piano concerto.  Each soloist picked a movement to prepare and then the best entry for each movement performed in the concert.

The most amazing performance was the 3rd mvt. of the 1st concerto, performed by an 8-year-old girl who has only been studying piano for 3 years!  I guess kids don't know something is difficult unless you tell them it is...

[Beet9]

I am soooo jealous!! I've worked so hard to perfect the Beethoven concerto no. 1, and there are 8-year-olds who can play it!!!    ARGHHR!!!!!!!      

[Ecthelion]

Thanks for advice! I think I keep on playing sonatas to upgrade my technical skills. After that, I hope I'm able to play some concerts, perhaps the 3. and then, way past, the 5. would be nice!!! But that's "what I would like", reality is an other kind...

regards,

Ecthelion

[zhiliang]

I once heard that some of Beethoven's piano sonatas (especially his lates ones) are really difficult pieces both technically and the profound understanding needed to tackle this piece. Its ok to learn them but one should not really perform them till maybe they are older or perhaps gain a more mature understanding of what the piece is all about. It will perhaps just sounds superficial if not. Is all these true?

Regards,

Zhiliang

[dgk88]

If you're wanting to play the emperor, go for it, it's not as difficult as it seems,  I have performed it multiple times and it's a fun one.  It was the first Beethoven I ever learned, and the second concerto I learned (Gershwin F minor was the first).  Good luck

[anda]

If you're wanting to play the emperor, go for it, it's not as difficult as it seems,  I have performed it multiple times and it's a fun one.  It was the first Beethoven I ever learned, and the second concerto I learned (Gershwin F minor was the first).  Good luck

FUN??? First beethoven concert??? does your teacher allow you such stuff?

happens that i've recently heard 5th played by a too young kid (around 20 i think) - and it struck me that he didn't even got to discover all the traps this concert hides, he fell in the first and the most obvious one: there are so many notes, and so many passages where the piano accopanies the orchestra, that you could easily get to just play the notes and the indications written. and then i realized i've hardly ever heard this concert really played (live, i mean, recordings by great pianists excluded).

my point is, maybe you played it well - maybe you even played it incredibly good. in this case, you're the exception to the rule. as a rule, i wouldn't let anybody play with this concert before 30 or before having played at least one of the first 3 concerts and half of the sonatas he wrote (also at least one of 101, 106, 109, 110, 111, and as many as possible earlier)

[trunks]

No.4 is my personal favourite, followed by the Emperor. 4 is technically and musically more taxing than 5. I was actually taken by surprise by the very short time I took to acquire 5, especially the more famous ending movement.

And I agree that many of his Sonatas are more demanding than the Concertos.