Favorite Concerto?

[thedodocotimes]

I would like to expand my knowledge of Concertos (primarily piano concertos)... what's your favorite?

[transitional]

Mozart - No. 27 in B-flat Major (K 595)

[pianistavt]

It changes over time.  When I was a teenager I listened to a lot of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Rachmaninoff concerti.  My initial favorite was Tchaikovsky 1, after that Chopin 1 in e minor, which I eventually studied.  In my 20's my favorite was Prokofiev 3, then one day I heard Prokofiev 2 on the radio, and that became my favorite. 
Currently my favorite is Schnittke Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra (1978).  There's a great recording on YT with Trifinov.  It's a work of genius, hopefully it will become well known.

[lelle]

There are a lot of concertos I like, but I think my current favorite is Chopin no 2 in f minor which is not a terribly unusual or exciting answer

[thorn]

The Ravel G major will always be special because my first (and only) experience of playing a concerto to an audience was playing the 1st mvt with my teacher on the piano reduction during undergrad. It was also a lot of fun to learn!

[thalbergmad]

I have yet to hear anything superior to Bortkiewicz 1 and I doubt if I ever will.

Thal

[pianistavt]

I have yet to hear anything superior to Bortkiewicz 1 and I doubt if I ever will.
Thal

Thanks for listing a under-known piece !

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Busoni, Henselt, Bronsart, Scharwenka 1, Liapunov 2 would be my favourite semi-well known ones (ok the Bronsart is almost unknown) and undoubtedly in my top 20 of all concerti.

[pianistavt]

Busoni, Henselt, Bronsart, Scharwenka 1, Liapunov 2 would be my favourite semi-well known ones (ok the Bronsart is almost unknown) and undoubtedly in my top 20 of all concerti.

These concertos are less known, less mainstream than the ones mentioned above - - it would be great if you added a blurb about the style of the concerto and why you like them.

Busoni is the only one I've listened to a few times - an epic work, isn't there a chorus in the last movement?  Apparently he was going for a new "Beethoven 9th" a la piano concerto.

[thalbergmad]

The Scharwenka 1 is the only concerto to my knowledge where each movement is Allegro.
It is pretty much relentless and is indicative of a youthful work. Bronsart is cut from the same cloth whereas Henselt is more Brahmsian and less display.
Busoni is too long for my ears and I will have to relisten to the Lyapunov 2 as I have forgotten it.
Me an Ronde agree on most things.
Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thanks for the summary. I think Earl Wild in the Scharwenka is a truly great recording. The Liapunov is somewhat of a Russian Liszt-Debussy combination, very lush late romanticism.