Liszt Piano Concerto No.1

[donjuan]

Hi everyone,
My teacher tells me today I should try the Liszt Eb Major Concerto, as my first concerto ever.  Has anyone here played it?  If so, can you offer any advice going into it?  Perhaps tell me about problems, whether they be technical or interpretive, you came across?

Thanks,
donjuan

[steinwayguy]

Well the first difficulty you'll come across will be found in the opening bars....

It's a really weird concerto to me, I don't know why, maybe it's just me. But it doesn't seem like a good first one. But if your teacher says it, go for it. Personally I prefer the second, but it is a great deal more difficult.

[donjuan]

yeah, I also prefer the 2nd one, but geez its just so viciously difficult with all the cadenzas and difficult timing between the piano and orchestral parts.  My teacher didnt seem too knowledgable about the 2nd concerto however..

donjuan

[apion]

Hi everyone,
My teacher tells me today I should try the Liszt Eb Major Concerto, as my first concerto ever.  Has anyone here played it?  If so, can you offer any advice going into it?  Perhaps tell me about problems, whether they be technical or interpretive, you came across?

Thanks,
donjuan

I've played through the first movement.  The opening bars are great, and most of the first movement is kick ass.  But, for whatever reason, I lost interest after that.

It is a very demanding concerto, and I would NOT recommend this as your first concerto unless you are a huge Liszt fan.  If you are a big Lisztie, then go for this concerto -- it's one of the best.

[xvimbi]

It is a very demanding concerto, and I would NOT recommend this as your first concerto unless you are a huge Liszt fan.  If you are a big Lisztie, then go for this concerto -- it's one of the best.

Donjuan a Liszt fan? How would you get such an idea?
 

[JP]

It's kinda strange that your teacher is starting you off with this concerto..  I would not do that to my students, though I dont really have any that are that advanced yet.. Maybe you should suggest another concerto to your teacher..   

Will you be playing this with an orchestra (any form that it may be), with another piano playing the other parts, or with a recorded backup?

Unless you have the aid of a conductor, you're sense of relative timing has to be insanely good.  The first time I did this exercise, I didnt think it would be too difficult, but when I started practicing with a recorded track (on CD), it was a little more difficult than I expected it to be.

I hope I remember to check back on this thread.. 

[donjuan]

Thanks everyone for your responses!  Yes, Apion, I am a HUGE Liszt fan - currently my repertoire consists of only Liszt, Liszt, and more Liszt.  I just tried the music for the first time today - the opening, that is.  So far im having trouble hitting the right chords and that opening cadenza in C major octaves where it goes C E G __ C E D C E G C E D C E G etc, I have no idea what fingering to use for the intervals in between the octave notes. I COULD use 2 or 3 for various cases, but I dont know which one is better in the long run.  I wont see my teacher for 3 weeks and no fingering is given in the music.  Suggestions anyone?
thanks,
donjuan

[Daevren]

This concerto seems a bit shallow at first. But it has some kind of a hidden depth to it.

Maybe because the basis was written in the earlier years and he kept changing it until the middle of his life. Two of the distinct elements of Liszt are in it. The virtuosity is very bluntly there and the intellectual power is more hidden. The passion element, more developed in Liszts last few years, aren't really in there.

It is said that Liszt and Hans von Bulow put words to the two opening measures: "Das versteht ihr alle nicht, haha."

[larse]

This particular concerto really puzzles me...I've not understood a single thing about it, especially not the more obscure piano/triangle duet within...I just cannot really take it seriously..

But as a first concerto, I'm not sure...the 2nd concerto is easier. if that should be of any help. The first concerto is huge and heavy, and don't worry about the cadenzas in the 2nd, they're very idiomatic written. However, just break all hell loose with the Eb Concerto...It's a great piece