your Favorite piano Concerto

[BoliverAllmon]

my favs go like this

bach d min
tchaik 1st
rach 1st
mozart 1st.

that is it for this week. LOL

[etudes]

Brahms 1, 2
Beethoven all
Rachmaninoff 2, 3, can we count rhapsody on theme paganini??
Chopin 1, 2
Liszt 1
Tchaikovsky 1
Schumann

[BoliverAllmon]

Brahms 1, 2
Beethoven all
Rachmaninoff 2, 3, can we count rhapsody on theme paganini??
Chopin 1, 2
Liszt 1
Tchaikovsky 1
Schumann

oh yeah add the rach rhapsody to my list. weehee. great stuff.

[virtuoso]

Mine would definitely be the ALL the Rachmaninov's! even number four, work with me guys, the fourth is absolutely STUNNING!

[BoliverAllmon]

Mine would definitely be the ALL the Rachmaninov's! even number four, work with me guys, the fourth is absolutely STUNNING!

it is better than most people make it out to be.

[virtuoso]

definitely!my friend and i have been listening to the 2nd mvt about six times in a row now, it is STUNNING!and the third mvt is amazing.and the first mvt. Oh THE WHOLE THING is excellent, but general public is strange...

[pianomann1984]

I will be performing Brahms 2 in a coupla weeks, so naturally that's gonna come top of my list...though I'm gonna be holdin a grudge against it for some time for nearly driving me insane trying to learn it!!!  Rach 2 is also pretty high on the list - yes... I know it's a cliche..but think...it must be pretty incredible to command the love of so many people!  However...a real fave (and my next to learn, coincidentally!) is the Barber Concerto - absolutely sublime!

[apion]

I will be performing Brahms 2 in a coupla weeks, so naturally that's gonna come top of my list...though I'm gonna be holdin a grudge against it for some time for nearly driving me insane trying to learn it!!! 

Pianoman1984, you have excellent, excellent taste.  After you're done cussing and swearing, just remember that Brahms Op. 83 is one of the greatest artistic achievements ever penned by man ......... You should, therefore, rejoice in all of its challenges ....... and rewards ......... ! 

[musik_man]

Brahms 2
Mendelssohn 1
Beethoven 4, 5
Mozart 23
Liszt Totentanz

Piano Concerti I'm not crazy about:
Liszt Eb major
Tchaikovsky 1

[andrewkim]

gershwin
prokofiev no.3
ravel (both)
bartok no.3

yea im pretty much sided towards 20th century concertos.

[pianomann1984]

Pianoman1984, just remember that Brahms Op. 83 is one of the greatest artistic achievements ever penned by man ......... You should, therefore, rejoice in all of its challenges ....... and rewards ......... ! 

Many thanks! but I'm not sure tendonitis counts as a reward!  However...I must admit it has been a wonderful challenge and a privalidge to learn this incredible work at the tender young age of 20 years old. 

[SteinwayTony]

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

Brahms:

- Sarabande in A minor for piano. 

- Most of his organ works.  Brahms just wasn't an organ man.

- He wrote a substantial amount of songs; many have fallen by the wayside.

- Many dislike his piano sonatas (though I happen to like them).

Mahler:

- The piano quartet comes to mind...

Ravel:

- Fugues.  Unfortunately for him French fugues never caught on.

- Variations. 

- A few works for piano.  Sérénade grotesque, for instance.

[SteinwayTony]

I will be performing Brahms 2 in a coupla weeks, so naturally that's gonna come top of my list...though I'm gonna be holdin a grudge against it for some time for nearly driving me insane trying to learn it!!!  Rach 2 is also pretty high on the list - yes... I know it's a cliche..but think...it must be pretty incredible to command the love of so many people!  However...a real fave (and my next to learn, coincidentally!) is the Barber Concerto - absolutely sublime!

I have a DVD of Pollini performing it with Abbado and the Wiener Philharmoniker.  Absolutely incredible.  So many notes.

[pianomann1984]

I have a DVD of Pollini performing it with Abbado and the Wiener Philharmoniker.  Absolutely incredible.  So many notes.

Really?!  I saw pollini play teh Liszt B minor at the Festival Hall, London a while back and it was amazing.  That DVD must be amazing indeed!

[apion]

I have a DVD of Pollini performing it with Abbado and the Wiener Philharmoniker.  Absolutely incredible.  So many notes.

I have a DVD of Zimerman performing it with Bernstein and the Vienna PO -- beyond incredible (although Zimerman does make one small mistake     in the 1st mvt ....... but I've since forgiven him .......) 

And as a bonus, it's coupled with the only piano concerto that is arguably greater than Brahms 2 --- ta da: Brahms 1 !!! 

[apion]

Brahms:

- Sarabande in A minor for piano. 

- Most of his organ works.  Brahms just wasn't an organ man.

- He wrote a substantial amount of songs; many have fallen by the wayside.

- Many dislike his piano sonatas (though I happen to like them).

Hold on, there:

Brahms piano sonatas are excellent, and his 3rd sonata is a top-tier masterpiece.  Even his 1st piano sonata, op. 1, is very good IMO.

Brahms wrote over 200 songs, and I'm sure some of them have seen better days ...... but who among us can judge a good song from a bad one ?

What little Brahms wrote for the organ is highly regarded.  Granted, Brahms was no JS Bach or Cesar Franck, but he was darn good.  I know several organists who think Brahms organ music is just fine.

I don't know the sarabande, however.

[pianomann1984]

I have a DVD of Zimerman performing it with Bernstein and the Vienna PO -- beyond incredible (although Zimerman does make one small mistake     in the 1st mvt ....... but I've since forgiven him .......) 

And as a bonus, it's coupled with the only piano concerto that is arguably greater than Brahms 2 --- ta da: Brahms 1 !!! 

Hmm, I'm not sure...I'm going with the quote I read that "the relationship of Brahms 1 to Brahms 2 is that of an adolesant to an adult."  Also, I have not yet heard a Liverecording that doesn't contain a mistake of some sort.  I'm glad you've found it within yourself to forgive him!  I have to say my personal favourite recording of this is by Julius Katchen (can't recall the orchestra/conducter)....btw, has anyone ever heard or seen a performance of anything conducted by James Judd?  He will conducting for me next week and I'm curious to hear what he's like!

[SteinwayTony]

...... but who among us can judge a good song from a bad one ?

Well considering the subject at hand is "duds," I think that arguments are bound to be just a little opinionated, don't you think?  It's also poor form to fall back on that defense -- to just say, "oh, well, we can't really tell."  I mean, I've been in one or more chorus ensembles for the past eight years.  Am I qualified?  Oh wait -- who among us can judge who's a good judge?  Right.  Good job.

[andrewkim]

Oh and I also think the Scriabin piano concerto in F# minor is really cool too.

[apion]

Well considering the subject at hand is "duds," I think that arguments are bound to be just a little opinionated, don't you think?  It's also poor form to fall back on that defense -- to just say, "oh, well, we can't really tell."  I mean, I've been in one or more chorus ensembles for the past eight years.  Am I qualified?  Oh wait -- who among us can judge who's a good judge?  Right.  Good job.

Well, I didn't mean to speak for you.  Personally, I am not qualified to cull good lieder from bad lieder.  I'm delighted that you have that ability, and if your opinion is that Brahms lieder suck, then I respect that.

[Waldszenen]

Hold on, there:

Brahms piano sonatas are excellent, and his 3rd sonata is a top-tier masterpiece.  Even his 1st piano sonata, op. 1, is very good IMO.

Brahms wrote over 200 songs, and I'm sure some of them have seen better days ...... but who among us can judge a good song from a bad one ?

What little Brahms wrote for the organ is highly regarded.  Granted, Brahms was no JS Bach or Cesar Franck, but he was darn good.  I know several organists who think Brahms organ music is just fine.

I don't know the sarabande, however.

I love the Brahms Sonatas too - I reckon they're excellent works.

And he's considered one of the Top 3 Lieder composers (with Schubert and Schumann).

[Derek]

I'd have to say Beethovens Emperor Concerto...and Rachmaninov's second. Such gloriously heroic music!

[SteinwayTony]

I love the Brahms Sonatas too - I reckon they're excellent works.

And he's considered one of the Top 3 Lieder composers (with Schubert and Schumann).

And if I asked to you list the Top 10 lieder composers, well, you'd be pretty screwed.  You wouldn't even get as far as 7.

I'm just very opposed to making a God of a composer (or a performer, or any human being for that matter).  Sometimes I think Brahms could have spit on staff paper, called it an intermezzo, and you guys would consider it another work of genius just because it has J. Brahms at the top of the page.  When I judge a piece of music, I judge the music itself, and nothing else.  The likelihood of one person composing hundreds of "perfect" pieces of music just doesn't fly for me. 

So, yes, I'm saying it: not of all Brahms' lieder are great.  A few are just I-IV-V-I, if not a tad more complex.  Hand me any mushy German poem and I'll do that.  Of course Brahms was a great composer and one of the best lieder composers, but don't just hang on that.

[daral]

So many choices, lol.  Ok, in no particular order: Chopin 1, absolutely wonderful.  Tchaikovsky 1, Rachy 2, Rachy 3.  Lots of other good ones, but these are the ones that stand out as just absolutely breathtaking that I can recall.  Definitely others too, but I can't remember them all. 

[sharon_f]

In no particular order:

Beethoven 4th
Tchaikovsky 1st
Mendelssohn 1st
Ravel G major
Mozart "Jeunehomme"
Weber Konzertstucke
Franck Symphonic Variations
Prokofiev 3rd

(Oh and one very guilty pleasure... Saint-Saens 1. I know flame me, but I love it!)

[The Six]

I saw Prokofiev's second a few weeks ago It was phenomenal. The first movement esepcially, mind-bending.

The Bartok concertos have to be included, I'm not familiar enough with them, though.

I don't care much for the outer movements of Ravel's G concerto, the second movement is the most valuable one. Left hand is more impressive.

And Rautavaara, everyone, seek out his concertos.

[apion]

Hmm, I'm not sure...I'm going with the quote I read that "the relationship of Brahms 1 to Brahms 2 is that of an adolesant to an adult."  Also, I have not yet heard a Liverecording that doesn't contain a mistake of some sort.  I'm glad you've found it within yourself to forgive him!  I have to say my personal favourite recording of this is by Julius Katchen (can't recall the orchestra/conducter)....btw, has anyone ever heard or seen a performance of anything conducted by James Judd?  He will conducting for me next week and I'm curious to hear what he's like!

Pianomann, you bring up two very important points:

1. Brahms 1 viz. Brahms 2.    I'm confident that I'm in the minority when I say this, but Brahms 1 is EVERY BIT AS GREAT as Brahms 2 -- and I'm dead serious.  Not to mention that Brahms 1 is performed more frequently in piano competitions ....... that its integrated motivic structure surpasses all concerti, save perhaps Beethoven 4 (and I'm being very generous to Beethoven 4) ........ that Brahms 1 flows more naturally (and without noticable gaps, transitions, or pauses) ........

It is a complete mischaracterization to declare that Brahms 1 was a mere adolescent visage of Brahms 2.     

2.  Julius Katchen is also on my very, very short list of outstanding recordings of both Brahms concerti ......

[steinwayguy]

Among them,
Brahms 1, 2
Rachmaninoff 2, 3
Beethoven 4
Mozart 20, 23, 25
Chopin F minor
Liszt 2
Tchaikovsky 1
Prokofiev 3
Bartok 3
Schumann

[apion]

Mozart 20, 23, 25

What about Mozart 24 in c minor?   

[SDL]

Rach 3
Shostakovich 2 (not the trumpet)
Walker/Elgar Piano concerto
Mendelssohn 1
Beethoven 1
Schumann
Rubinstein 4
Ravel
Addinsel Warsaw concerto
Beethoven 5

oh I like them all 

[shasta]

(Oh and one very guilty pleasure... Saint-Saens 1. I know flame me, but I love it!)

*Applauds*  YAY for the S-S #1!!!   

[pianomann1984]

Pianomann, you bring up two very important points:

1. Brahms 1 viz. Brahms 2.    I'm confident that I'm in the minority when I say this, but Brahms 1 is EVERY BIT AS GREAT as Brahms 2 -- and I'm dead serious.  Not to mention that Brahms 1 is performed more frequently in piano competitions ....... that its integrated motivic structure surpasses all concerti, save perhaps Beethoven 4 (and I'm being very generous to Beethoven 4) ........ that Brahms 1 flows more naturally (and without noticable gaps, transitions, or pauses) ........

It is a complete mischaracterization to declare that Brahms 1 was a mere adolescent visage of Brahms 2.     

2.  Julius Katchen is also on my very, very short list of outstanding recordings of both Brahms concerti ......

I must sayt that since posting this I took it upon my self to read through and tackle Brahms 1 as a little (!) side project, and would now agree with you from a performers point of view that it is extremely well constructed and by no means inferior.  However there is no denying that Brahms 1 & 2 are a world apart - the 'adolescent' is by no means any less exciting, but it doesn't have the same sense of grandeur and structure across all 4 movements as the 'elder' - The D minor is more virtuosic/soloistic, and the Bb is more about chamber/symphonic playing (despite it's size, where chamber may be considered a bit of a contradiction!!!).  I still maintain that Brahms 1 is younger-feeling and more firey, and that Brahms 2 trenscends with the age & wisdom of so many more years.  (I can't believe that I made that up!!!  )

[C-A]

1st. Tchaikovsky's B-flat minor
2nd. Mozart's 9th
3rd. Rachmaninoff's 3rd
4th. Beethoven's 4th
5th. Beethoven's 5th

[thalbergmad]

Henselt & Rubinstein 4th for me. Bortkiewicz not far behind

[ch1525]

Some of my favorites include:

Rachmaninoff - No. 2
Liszt - No. 1
Grieg in A minor
Rubinstein - No. 4 (This one used to be fairly popular, but sadly you don't hear it much anymore)
Tchaikovsky - No. 1

[philippe]

My favorite :

 Beethoven's 5th

[hodi]

Rach3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rach3]

what?

[Dazzer]

I have a little spot for the dvorak piano concerto.

and shostakovich.

but of course the usual concertos apply




relating to the brahms topic, i heard that brahms threw away ALOT of music that he wrote, that didn't make it to print, because he thought it was , well, crap.

[apion]

I must sayt that since posting this I took it upon my self to read through and tackle Brahms 1 as a little (!) side project, and would now agree with you from a performers point of view that it is extremely well constructed and by no means inferior.  However there is no denying that Brahms 1 & 2 are a world apart - the 'adolescent' is by no means any less exciting, but it doesn't have the same sense of grandeur and structure across all 4 movements as the 'elder' - The D minor is more virtuosic/soloistic, and the Bb is more about chamber/symphonic playing (despite it's size, where chamber may be considered a bit of a contradiction!!!).  I still maintain that Brahms 1 is younger-feeling and more firey, and that Brahms 2 trenscends with the age & wisdom of so many more years.  (I can't believe that I made that up!!!  )

Hey, Pianomann:

Jeepers, that's a darn good summary!        I don't dispute a single word of your analysis!

(but, at the same time,  I'm not suggesting that I TOTALLY agree with you ......).      

[Dazzer]

no no you're suggesting it alright. but that doesn't mean you do either.

[possom46]

My favourites:-

Rach 2
Gershwin in F minor

 

[Demidoff]

I would say
Ravel´s  for the left hand,
Bartok´s for two pianos, percussion and orchestra, 
Rachmaninoff 3rd,  or
Prokofiev 2nd.
(Etude_de_Concert, you got a point!!!)






Gotta find myself a nice quote down here...

[apion]

My favourites:-

Rach 2
Gershwin in F minor  
 

The Gershwin is in F Major!           

[possom46]

The Gershwin is in F Major!           

  and to think i've been learning this for the past 6 months 

[bigwoo358]

Greig!!!!

Rach 2

Liszt 1

and TOTETANZ!!!

[hodi]

what?

lol 

[redbaron]

Schumann
Rimsky-Korsakov
Grieg
Warsaw Concerto
Rach 1
Paganini Rhapsody (it's more or less a concerto)
Tchaikovsky 1
Bach D minor BWV 1052

[thalbergmad]

Schumann

Masterpiece.

Thal

[orangesodaking]

Ferruccio Busoni's Piano Concerto anyone? Rach 3 and Brahms 2 used to be my favorites, but I heard John Ogdon's recording of the Busoni Piano Concerto and it blew every other concerto I've ever heard (and that's A LOT) out of the water!