Great Piano Concerto Middle Movements?

[gapoc459]

It seems to me that the slow movements of concertos are never as famous are highly regarded as their outside counterparts... In fact, I can barely think of any concertos in which I enjoy the second movement as much as or more than the first and third.

I love the middle movement of Rach 1; possibly my favorite movement of the piece.

That's the only one can think of right now. Any others that you especially love?

[stiefel]

Scriabin middle movement.  F sharp major, theme and variations.

[redbaron]

It seems to me that the slow movements of concertos are never as famous are highly regarded as their outside counterparts...

That's because the first movement had to be captivating enough to make the audience stay in their seats and the final movement had to be memorable enough that they went away wanting more 

The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are Mozart No's 21 and 27. And I'm not even a Mozart fan...

[g_s_223]

[outin]

Shostakovich second...the contrast to the other movements makes it even better...

[rachmaninoff_forever]

The Rach 1 is where it's at bro!

[lelle]

2nd movement of Chopin's f minor concerto is amazingly beautiful, especially under the hands of a great artist.

[ahinton]

BUSONI

This thread is, of course, by definition confined to piano concertos with odd numbers of movements.

Best,

Alistair

[dima_76557]

Of course in the hands of a true artist:

- Bach - Largo from concerto No.5, BWV 1056 (Glenn Gould);
- Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 - Andante;
- Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 - Adagio;
- Beethoven's Emperor concerto. Has been used in more than one Hollywood movie for a reason;
- Grieg;
- Liszt 1st concerto;
- Rachmaninov 2.

[iansinclair]

Probably hopelessly bourgeois... but I love the middle movement of Rach. 2  That melody...

[thalbergmad]

Stanford 1 is divine.

Thal

[patrickd]

Busoni.

[ahinton]

Busoni

See #7...

Best,

Alistair

[nocturnetr]

I was going to say Busoni...
Ravel G major has a beautiful 2nd movement, I don't like the whole piece though.
Rach 3 has the best middle movement ever written! I don't know if it counts, since there is no pause between the 3rd and the 2nd movements. But I think that it is better than Rach 2's second movement. (I don't like Rach 2 at all.)

[jknott]

I'm going to rebel against the "odd number only" rule as OP was talking about slow movements.

In which case it's got to be second movement of Brahms 2 - though not necessarily for the piano part.

[patrickd]

The Moszkowski piano concerto also has a great middle movement along with the Alkan concerto.

[piano_nurse]

Nothing beats this movement for me. Nothing. Before this piece, I was such a solo piano snob, and appreciated nothing with other instruments. And Rubinstein's playing... Can't be matched, in my opinion. 

[nickcarlozzi]

It's typical, but... Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto, never fails.

[nikolasideris]

The minute I saw this thread I thought to myself "Ravel"!!!!!! Already posted by someone and with Michelangeli on the piano, which, in my opinion, is the best possible performance (better than Argerich!) (<-flame! )

[bencollisonmusic]

Lizt Piano Concerto No. 1 Second movement is amazing! I usually get bored with second movements but that one always keeps me interested no matter how many times I've heard it already.

[picsatsofron]

Middle movements tend to be my favorites!

Rach 4
Beethoven Op. 73 (esp Pollini or Lupu)
Brahms Op. 15
Brahms Op. 83 (If we're talking about slow movements not just middle movements)

and then Bartok

Concertos #2 and 3 both have incredible slow movements; some of the most effective music bartok ever wrote.

Also Mozart K. 595 (listen to Clara Haskil) and Chopin No. 2, both are simple but beautiful melodies that shine brightly when played simply.

[nanabush]

Beethoven's 4th piano concerto!!!

The end of the second movement has a similar feeling to "melt in your mouth food".  I don't know why, but the dialogue, the cadenza, and the LAST MEASURE is incredible.

[drew98]

Chopin 1 and 2
Rach 2, 3, and 4
Ravel
Beethoven 5
Tchaikovsky 1
Brahms 1 (The third movement of No 2 is also great)

[thepianist09]

The Emperor Piano Concerto 2nd Movement is possibly the greatest. It was one of the most beautiful pieces written in the history of Western Classical Music as a general and I think we are very lucky to have it. Thank you Beethoven.

Alternatively you could say Liszt 1st or Rach 2nd.