Moszkowski's piano concerto

[cazico]

There are many mysteries in our universe, and this is one of them:
Why is this utterly supurb piano concerto so neglected?

I just can't understand why this concerto hasn't got more attention. What do you, guys, think of it?
And are you able to give me some plausible reasons for the neglect of this masterpiece?


There are of course other concertos too, that deserves more attention, IMO such as Hummel 2 and 3 and some Moscheles concertos etc.

[49410enrique]

it was very successful initially. it was franz liszt who jumped in with him to perform a two piano version of the work.

i think it is mainly due to the fact that his music just simply fell out of favor in the , he was immensely popular for a while with his 'salon' pieces and such, but he proved unable to adapt in composing to rapidly changing musical tastes and an evolving styles so sales of his published works fell to very low levels (many of his works remained unpublished are are considered lost, i.e orchestral ,etc_), in short he 'went out of style'.   the later part of his life was quite tragic, his wife left him for his best friend (a blow he really never recovered from), he lost his wealth with much of the issues surround WWI and by the early part of the 20th century he was living poverty. i think he was about age 70 when he passed away in 1925 in paris, it is sad that with his life circumstances towards the end there wasn't really a chance for a 'revival' of his music, even though he had some very successful friends and was still respected by musicians a benefit concert held on his behalf raised the equivalent of over 100,000 dollars but he didn't really access the funds till very close to his (i read literally just weks before) death (percy grainger amonst the 14 pianist who performed), they are probably the reason we don't have any piano roll recordings of his playing even though the technology existed during his lifetime.

[thalbergmad]

I just can't understand why this concerto hasn't got more attention.

Me neither, but for some reason neglected repertoire often suffers from poor sales/attendances whilst a 9 millionth recording/performance of the Schumann drivel will fly off the shelves/be sold out.

As far as I am aware, the earlier unrecorded PC by Moszkowski is due to be performed this year and that is a friggin belter.

Thal

[cazico]

Me neither, but for some reason neglected repertoire often suffers from poor sales/attendances whilst a 9 millionth recording/performance of the Schumann drivel will fly off the shelves/be sold out.

As far as I am aware, the earlier unrecorded PC by Moszkowski is due to be performed this year and that is a friggin belter.

Thal

That's quite true. I don't think the Schumann concerto is totally crap, but there are many out there that are far more interesting. The Henselt concerto is another one for example.

IMO the PCs of Moszkowski, Hummel 2 (and 3?) and perhaps Henselt are some of the most "underrated" ones. But I guess this has been discussed a thousand of times...

I'm glad to hear that there are people out there that appreciate the Moszkowski concerto and not just praise everything that comes from great names such as Schumann, Brahms etc just because of the names.


Thal, regarding the unrecorded PC: You refer to the op. 3 in B minor from 1874? Honestly I know nothing about that one.
Do you have more details about this performance?

[thalbergmad]

No details at present my friend.

All 450 odd pages were still being typeset the last time I head. The BNF would only allow the original manuscript to be photographed, so this is going to be a considerable task as the barrelling of the pictures do not make dechipering easy.

Thal

[j_joe_townley]

If you want to hear a jaw-dropping performance of the 3rd movement then feast your ears on this:

Pianist Janina Fialkowska. Read the following which makes her performance all the more remarkable:

In January, 2002 at the onset of a major European tour encompassing eight different countries, Ms. Fialkowska’s career was brought to a dramatic halt by the discovery of a tumour in her left arm. After successful surgery to remove the cancer, Ms Fialkowska underwent further surgery in January 2003; a rare muscle-transfer procedure. After 18 months of performing the Ravel and Prokofiev "concertos for the left hand" which she transcribed for her right hand she has resumed her two-handed career beginning with a tremendously successful and highly emotional recital held in Germany in January 2004.

[cadenza14224]

I have no idea why it's neglected. Found it a couple months ago myself; it is one of the most Romantic/swoooony concertos ever. Love it.

[perfect_pitch]

Although I don't like Fialkowskas performance of the Moszkowski concerto... I'll give her, her due...

She sounds like the only one who doesn't have very badly edited cut and paste marks in her recording. I've listened to two other recordings with incredibly obvious cut-marks.

For me Fialkowskis recording had way too many sporadically changing tempo markings and many sections in the first movement and second movement could have breathed a little more, instead of pushing the tempo. Personally, my favourite recording is Pawlik's.

[mousekowski]

I particularly like Michael Ponti's 1970 recording of Moszkowski's Op59 Piano Concerto. I didn't know there was an earlier concerto - sounds interesting. Who's recording it?

[retrouvailles]

I must hear and/or get my hands on a recording or score of this other Moszkowski piano concerto. I incidentally just performed his Op. 72 No. 1 etude, which is incidentally in the same key as the recorded concerto, and I have been a big fan of the E major concerto for a long time. I'm really excited for this concerto. I really like the Raekallio recording, personally.

[akpl16]

Ponti for me always seems a bit too technical and there isn't enough fire in it for my liking (thinking about his Scriabin as well, on that note). I remember the first recording of it I ever heard was the one by David Bar-Ilian, which I still believe is the standard to beat! Hyperion's recording with Piers Lane as soloist is also a great one.

[argerichfan]

Me neither, but for some reason neglected repertoire often suffers from poor sales/attendances whilst a 9 millionth recording/performance of the Schumann drivel will fly off the shelves/be sold out.

In response to this thread I put on the Moszkowski this evening.

I confess to being at a loss why this adorable concerto is not better known. It would seem ideal for The Proms or the Boston Pops.

Yes, it is very difficult, but not -I should think- any heavier going than those of Rachmaninov.

The coupling on the CD -Paderewski- is IMO is no where near on the level of Moszkowski.

[retrouvailles]

It would seem ideal for The Proms

Oh God, yes. I'd love to see this at The Proms. It would be a real hit.

Boston Pops.

Oh God, no. Save it for a real orchestra that plays worthwhile repertoire very well.

The coupling on the CD -Paderewski- is IMO is no where near on the level of Moszkowski.

You think so? I have a soft spot for the Paderewski. It isn't as good as the Moszkowski, but it isn't exactly trash either. It could just use a better recording.

[thalbergmad]

I can live with the Paderewski, but the Moszkowski is superior to my ears.

Anyone who enjoys the Moszkowski should most certainly listen to Melcer 1 & 2 and Rozycki 1. The latter is the best Polish PC I have heard and by some margin.

Thal

[argerichfan]

Oh God, no. Save it for a real orchestra that plays worthwhile repertoire very well.

But isn't the BPO the Boston Symphony without the first chairs? IMO, Boston Pops have given us some fun recordings, mostly light music, but that's okay.

You think so? I have a soft spot for the Paderewski. It isn't as good as the Moszkowski, but it isn't exactly trash either. It could just use a better recording.

Didn't mean to damn it -hardly, and my apologies- maybe this remains Earl Wild territory. But you do have to admit that it is an extremely conventional concerto, and if this is where we're going, I have a terribly soft spot in my heart for the MacDowell A minor. Almost 'text book' in its conception, the fresh enthusiasm of its gorgeous tunes carry the day. Cheers!

[argerichfan]

Anyone who enjoys the Moszkowski should most certainly listen to Melcer 1 & 2 and Rozycki 1. The latter is the best Polish PC I have heard and by some margin.

Will look into those concertos, always good to have your input! Didn't you bring the Pabst concerto to my attention? Nicely written piece, though perhaps not quite on the level of its disc mates, R-K and Scriabin.

[akpl16]

Anyone who enjoys the Moszkowski should most certainly listen to Melcer 1 & 2 and Rozycki 1.

Thal

Totally agree, Melcer's first is in mind one of the most wrongly-neglected masterpieces of Romantic literature, along with Moszkowski's.

[cazico]

Anyone who enjoys the Moszkowski should most certainly listen to Melcer 1 & 2 and Rozycki 1. The latter is the best Polish PC I have heard and by some margin.

Thanks a lot for the recommendations, Thal!
Haven't heard them all yet, but from what I did listen to I can say that this is highly enjoyable music.
I'm still a young student, so I haven't heard of all those concertos, so I really appreciate you're mentioning them. Just mention more if you like! :-)


I would also say that Bortkiewicz 1 is a too much neglected concerto:

.
Hints of both Chopin and Rach. Love the wonderful Rachmaninov-like part from 15:30 in that video.

(P.S. I have to apologize for my bad english.)

[cazico]

And you have this funny "CATcerto":

Is it superior to Schumann, Thal? 

[thalbergmad]

Indeed, that is supurrrior to Schumann.

Thal

[thalbergmad]

I would also say that Bortkiewicz 1 is a too much neglected concerto:

I have yet to hear a better concerto than the Bortkiewicz 1 and I doubt if I ever will.

Thal

[keyboardkat]

I think one reason for the neglect of the piece is its extreme difficulty.   I think it's right up there with the Rachmaninoff 3rd, especially the first movement.

[g_s_223]

Mozkowski's Douze Études pour la main gauche Op.92 are without question an indispensable collection of studies to bring the left hand to a high level of command.

I recommend these unreservedly to those wishing to achieve true mastery of the LH.