your Favorite piano Concerto

[kghayesh]

I was wondering what's the most wonderful piano concerto??

Mine is Tchaikovsky's no.1 in Bb minor.

[fred smalls]

Wow I really haven't heard alot (want to hear the Scriabin). But I would have to say at this moment: Rachmaninoff 1

[Lance Morrison]

Schönberg

[robo1001]

Grieg

[Etude]

Prokofiev 2nd 

[pianiststrongbad]

there are so many great ones.  Though I guess my favourite has always been the Rachmaninov 2nd.

[apion]

Brahms 1 

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I have two - Rach 3 and Busoni.

[fred smalls]

I haven't heard the Busoni, although I assume it would be amazing, considering everything by Bunsoni is amazing. Do you know where I could find a recording on the internet?

[thierry13]

I would say mostly all romantic concertos... they are just... amazing. The 4 rachs, the tchaikovsky's first, grieg, schumann... all!! Wonderfull pieces. I think the Rach 3 is the one I would be the most exalted. I would literally be finished, I would not be able to breath lol. I don't know  The feeling is great. And I can only barely imagine 

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I haven't heard the Busoni, although I assume it would be amazing, considering everything by Bunsoni is amazing. Do you know where I could find a recording on the internet?

Sadly, the only one available was removed (like the OC). Which I can understand, because it is so long.

[minimozart007]

Bach's D minor concerto.  It's so modulatory and "free" (even more so then the organ works wink wink )

[presto agitato]

I can not make a decision.

Beethovenīs 4th, Chopinīs 2nd or Mendelssohnīs 1st.

Which one would you choose ?

[apion]

I can not make a decision.

Beethovenīs 4th, Chopinīs 2nd or Mendelssohnīs 1st.

Which one would you choose ?

I would choose B's 4th by a 50:1 margin. 

[Waldszenen]

There are many concerti I like; here's a list of my top ones:

1. Brahms No. 2

2. Rachmaninoff No. 2

3. Rachmaninoff No. 3

4. Brahms No. 1

5. Tschaikowsky No. 1

6. Schumann

7. Grieg

8. Beethoven No. 5

[klavierkonzerte]

i don't have an absolute favorite but here are some:

all moscheles, i could live only on his concertos not even one of them is boaring
hummel A minor
ries C# minor and C minor
kullak
both mendelssohn
thalberg
clara schumann
medtner 1
dvorak
litolff 5th, 2nd , 3rd
both brahms
henri herz concertos, i can't remember which ones
and also one by czerny, i don't know which one

my favorites are the ones from the early romantic period, i just LOVE the music of that period
i don't know why early romantics are neglected now.

[klavierkonzerte]

i want to add crammer piano concertos

[lfischer]

medtner and rachmaninov. rach 4 is my favourite at the moment.

[pseudopianist]

1. Chopin  - F minor
2. Rach 1
3. Rach 2
4. Rach 3
5. Chopin - E minor
6. Bach - Concerto in C for two harpsichords

[Jacey1973]

I think my top 2 favourites are:

1) Rachmaninov no. 3
2) Tchaikovsky no. 1

[Kassaa]

Chopins first.

The first movement is soooooooooooo beautiful

[howiehc]

My fav's

1) Chopin #2
 
2) Grieg

3) Brahms #2

4) Mozart #23 (it seems like mozart's not exactly popular on this forum    )

[bachmaninov]

My favorite is Rach 2 

I also like Rach 1 and 4... I hate Rach 3

For some reason... I like Copland's Piano concerto! What the hell is wrong with me?

[thierry13]

i don't have an absolute favorite but here are some:

all moscheles, i could live only on his concertos not even one of them is boaring

they transform you into a boar 

[pianonut]

just heard the schuman 2nd concerto (3rd mov't) and really liked it.  it spoke to me.

[apion]

all moscheles, i could live only on his concertos not even one of them is boaring

KlavierKonzert:

I don't know his concerti, but I'd like to.  How many concerti did he write, and which recordings do you recommend?   

thanks

[klavierkonzerte]

he wrote 8, the 8th's lost 
hyperion recordings are the best, check their site for sample
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/67385.asp

[musicsdarkangel]

Rach 1-3
Mendelssohn g minor
Grieg (yeah, I know, it is overplayed, but a great work nonetheless
Mozart d minor k 466

[DarkWind]

1. Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major
2. Ravel's Left Hand Piano Concerto in D Major
3. Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor
4. Roussel's Piano Concerto
5. Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor
6. Busoni's Piano Concerto in C Major
7. Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F

[steinwayguy]

Brahms 1, 2
Beethoven 4, 5
Rachmaninoff 2, 3
Chopin 1, 2
Liszt 2
Tchaikovsky 1
Schumann
Mozart 23, 25
Prokofiev 1, 3, 5
Bartok 3

[Waldszenen]

My favorite is Rach 2 

I also like Rach 1 and 4... I hate Rach 3

For some reason... I like Copland's Piano concerto! What the hell is wrong with me?

I think you're the first person who prefers the Rach 4 to the Rach 3. :O

[brewtality]

Henselt F minor and Rachmaninoff F sharp minor

[Motrax]

I love all of Rachmaninoff's concertos, though I'd say that the first is inferior to the other three (though I still love it). Generally, I listen to the third concerto. The second concerto is beautiful, but if I listen to it consecutively for a week or two, it gets tiring. I rarely listen to the 4th concerto, but there are certain times when there's nothing else I could listen to. On those days, it's my favorite by a longshot. However, I've got to be in the mood for it.

Other favorites of mine are Bramhs 2, Bach's D minor, Beethoven 1 and 4, Beach, the second movement of the Barber (I really dislike the other two movements), Saint Saens 3... the list goes on. I don't know Henselt well enough, but from the two times I've heard it, I did enjoy the piece quite a bit.

[Etude]

I think you're the first person who prefers the Rach 4 to the Rach 3. :O

I'm the second.

[apion]

Other favorites of mine are Bramhs 2, Bach's D minor, Beethoven 1 and 4, Beach, the second movement of the Barber (I really dislike the other two movements), Saint Saens 3... the list goes on. I don't know Henselt well enough, but from the two times I've heard it, I did enjoy the piece quite a bit.

Mortax, do you mean Saint-Saens 2 (not 3)?

[lfischer]

I think you're the first person who prefers the Rach 4 to the Rach 3. :O

erhem if you read up you'll find that I'M the first! 

[wintervind]

Schumann A minor
Shostakovich 1 and 2
Prokofiev - ALL!
Ravel - yes!
Brahms 1 and 2
Gershwin F major

[SteinwayTony]

considering everything by Bunsoni is amazing.

Surely that's an exaggeration.  In any case, it's such a sweeping statement that when applied to any composer it would be dead wrong.  Every composer has its duds.  Chopin's Fugue.  Beethoven's Polonaise(!). 

The Busoni Concerto is a monster.  In fact, that's the main criticism of it, if I recall correctly.  Scored for piano, orchestra, and male voices.

[SteinwayTony]

my favorites are the ones from the early romantic period, i just LOVE the music of that period
i don't know why early romantics are neglected now.

You may be satisfied by Hyperion's series of releases called The Romantic Piano Concerto.  I think they're up to about 50 sets or so.  British pianists playing obscure piano concertos, including Medtner, Moscheles, Bortkiewicz, Busoni, von Sauer, Brull, and much more.  It's a great set, if expensive (~$20 per disc), and the wimpy dollar is just going to make it more so.  But (pardon the RIAA-esque rant) please don't be tempted to download: support the labels, artists, and orchestras so they can make more!  There are so many alternatives: of course you could buy it, but if that's not possible, track it down at the library or borrow it from a friend or a teacher.

[jas]

Beethoven 4 and (just to be really original) Rach 2 and Tchaikovsky 1.

I love all of Rachmaninoff's concertos, though I'd say that the first is inferior to the other three (though I still love it).

I like the first movement of that better than I like any of the third. I do like the third but to be honest I don't really see why it's so popular. But hey, each to their own!

Jas

[Sergey R]

Rach 1, 2, and 3. His 4th is ok, but I don't really like it as much. Rachmaninov was never happy with it himself, always tweaking around the parts before recordings.

[Motrax]

I do mean the Saint-Saens 3rd concerto, not the 2nd. For whatever reason, I really don't like the first or second as much as the other three, even though number two is the most popular.

In my humble opinion, the second movement of Rach 1 is the best. I like the third concerto (and I think many would agree, though I can really only speak for myself here) because it's thick, contrapuntal texture allows for a lot of freedom both on the part of the pianist and the listener. Every time I listen to the piece, some new melody or hidden theme leaps out - it stays perpetually fresh. That, and it's just a great piece in general.

Tchaikovsky's 1st certainly deserves to be among the best, although a bad orchestra/pianist can make it quite a bore (though that's true with anything of substantial length I guess).

[apion]

Every composer has its duds. 

I almost agree ....... but I don't think Brahms has any duds (really!!).  I don't think Mahler does either.   

[DarkWind]

Ravel certainly has no duds. His meticulous work on each and every single piece he wrote ensured quality and beauty. Some might not live to others' tastes, but you have to admit it sounds very detailed and concise, and certainly something another could like.

[apion]

Ravel certainly has no duds. His meticulous work on each and every single piece he wrote ensured quality and beauty. Some might not live to others' tastes, but you have to admit it sounds very detailed and concise, and certainly something another could like.

I agree that Ravel was probably one of the top 3 most meticulous composers of alltime.  While we're on the topic of French composers, Dukas also has little or no duds (but then again, he wrote only about 18 compositions).

[invsblmn]

Gershwin's Concerto in F

[Waldszenen]

I almost agree ....... but I don't think Brahms has any duds (really!!).  I don't think Mahler does either.   

I definitely agree with you there. Nothing, to my knowledge, written by Brahms or Mahler is a dud.

[sznitzeln]

My favorite is constantly changing, but often it is one of these:
Shostakovich #1
Beethoven #4
Mozart #18-24 (Havent listened so much to #25)
Schumann
Prokofiev #1,2,3
Bach 1,4,5
Tchaikovsky #1
Chopin #1

[BoliverAllmon]

i don't have an absolute favorite but here are some:

all moscheles, i could live only on his concertos not even one of them is boaring
hummel A minor
ries C# minor and C minor
kullak
both mendelssohn
thalberg
clara schumann
medtner 1
dvorak
litolff 5th, 2nd , 3rd
both brahms
henri herz concertos, i can't remember which ones
and also one by czerny, i don't know which one

my favorites are the ones from the early romantic period, i just LOVE the music of that period
i don't know why early romantics are neglected now.

I didn't realize that clara wrote one. who recorded it?

[DarkWind]

I agree that Ravel was probably one of the top 3 most meticulous composers of alltime.  While we're on the topic of French composers, Dukas also has little or no duds (but then again, he wrote only about 18 compositions).

He was a music cirtic as well, so he was ruthless about his own compositions. Only the best stuff survived, and anything that didn't even meet his standards was quickly crumpled up and thrown into the fireplace. So Dukas definitely was one of those meticulous composers.