Piano Concertos by Tchaikovsky and Arensky

Track Listings

1. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito

2. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Andantino simplice – Prestissimo – Tempo 1

3. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro con fuoco

4. Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Allegro maestoso

5. Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Andante con moto

6. Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Scherzo-Finale: Allegro molto

Editorial Reviews
Musical Opinion, Sept/Oct 2003
"apart from the rarity of the works championed by Felicja Blumental is the sheer enjoyment in music making"

Billboard, 1979
"This pianist is one of the world’s greatest…played with brilliant technique."

Album Description
The first of these Russian piano concertos by Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky is one of the World’s most famous classical masterpieces and instantly recognisable from it’s introduction. Tchaikovsky first began composing the work in 1874 while studying at St. Petersburg Conservatory under Anton Rubinstein. On completion, he gave the manuscript to pianist, Nicolas Rubinstein (brother of Anton) to whom the work was dedicated. Nicolas’ reaction was unfavourable which greatly annoyed Tchaikovsky so he substituted the name for Hans von Bulow, who praised it’s style and form, performing the première in 1875 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Anton Arensky composed his Piano Concerto in F minor, Op 2 in 1882 at the age of 21, the same year he began teaching at the Moscow Conservatory. It is reminiscent of Chopin in it’s virtuoso passages but keeps it’s Russian character, very similar to the styles of Tchaikovsky (with whom he made a close association) and Rimsky-Korsakov, his teacher at St. Petersburg Conservatory. It too has a tense and dramatic opening first movement which leads into the piano theme, but it’s the ‘dance like’ third movement in which Ms. Blumental particularly sparkles and it’s here that Arensky entertains his fascination for irregular time signatures with a 5/4 finale.

Piano Concertos by Tchaikovsky and Arensky

Tracks:

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso Allegro con spirito
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Andantino simplice Prestissimo Tempo 1
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro con fuoco
Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Allegro maestoso
Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Andante con moto
Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Scherzo-Finale: Allegro molto

Album Description

The first of these Russian piano concertos by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky is one of the World's most famous classical masterpieces and instantly recognisable from it's introduction. Tchaikovsky first began composing the work in 1874 while studying at St. Petersburg Conservatory under Anton Rubinstein. On completion, he gave the manuscript to pianist, Nicolas Rubinstein (brother of Anton) to whom the work was dedicated. Nicolas' reaction was unfavourable which greatly annoyed Tchaikovsky so he substituted the name for Hans von Bulow, who praised it's style and form, performing the première in 1875 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Customer Reviews:

Marvellous cello concertos.......2005-08-28

This is a terrific set of cello recordings, with Pieter Wispelwey as the cellist. The first disc (of four) has the two famous Haydn cello concertos. We're treated to Wispelwey's fine candenzas for all three movements of the D major concerto and the first movement of the C major one. The final movement of the C major is a test for any cellist: can one play it fast and cleanly? Before I heard Wispelwey, my favorite was the recording by du Pre. But I now prefer this recording, which has an unbelievably fast tempo.

The first disc includes an unusual recording of Haydn's final symphony transcribed for flute, piano, and string quartet.

There is a fine selection of cello works on the remaining discs. The most famous ones are the cello concertos by Schumann, Dvorak, and Elgar. But there are also works by Hindemith, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Arensky, Davidov, and Lutoslawski. Throughout, Wispelwey's technique is superb, and I also enjoyed his interpretations and his very lively tempos.

I highly recommend this set of cello works.

Music Review:

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1. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito
2. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Andantino simplice – Prestissimo – Tempo 1
3. Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor, Op. 23: Allegro con fuoco
4. Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Allegro maestoso
5. Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Andante con moto
6. Arensky Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2: Scherzo-Finale: Allegro molto