GMG's Greatest Concertos Poll of 2017

[Christo]

I must be the only member here who believes that Saint-saens 2nd and 5th (Egyptian) piano concertos are the best piano concertos of the romantic era fullstop!

   nobodys mentioned them...
  marvin

I didn't mention any romantic concerto, but among them Saint-Saëns' Egyptian is one of my absolute favourites; another is his late Morceau de concert for harp and orchestra

[Mahlerian]

Somebody had to do it*

10 pts - Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 9 "Jenamy" ("Jeunehomme") in E-flat major, K. 271
09 pts - Mozart - Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C major, K. 299/297c
08 pts - Mozart - Violin Concerto No.4 in D major, K.218
07 pts - Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622
06 pts - Haydn - Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, Hob.VIIe:1
05 pts - Handel - Organ Concerto in G minor op. 7 No 5
04 pts - Boccherini - Cello Concerto in D major, G. 479
03 pts - Vivaldi - Flute Concerto in D major, RV 428 "Il gardellino"
02 pts - Mercadante - Flute Concerto No. 2 in E minor, Op. 57
01 pts - Somervell - Violin Concerto in G minor

* ie, trying in vain to revert the balance from doom & gloom, dark & bark to light & bright, sunny & funny! You know, ladies and gentlemen, humor, laughter and merriment are just as humane and legitimate as tragedy, weep and mourning. 

Well, I think we're the only two who've voted for Mozart's early masterpiece.

Whoops, I forgot AMW's all-Mozart vote.  Richly deserved, at that.

[Florestan]

Well, I think we're the only two who've voted for Mozart's early masterpiece.

True, but una hirundo non facit ver. Compare everything else we've voted for. 

[North Star]

And amw voted for No. 9 too.

[Ken B]

Well, I think we're the only two who've voted for Mozart's early masterpiece.

Whoops, I forgot AMW's all-Mozart vote.  Richly deserved, at that.

The problem with Mozart is that there isn't one head and shoulders above the others. They are only head and shoulders (and navel) above the Doom And Gloom brigade.

[Mahlerian]

True, but una hirundo non facit ver. Compare everything else we've voted for. 

What about them?  I don't consider any of the pieces on my list as representing doom and gloom.  Some of them have dark moments, like the Mozart on top of my list, but none of them are pessimistic.

[ritter]

Here goes...

Beethoven PC No. 4 in G major op. 38 (10 points)
Ravel Concerto for the Left Hand (9 points)
Mozart VC No. 3 in G major K216 (8 points)
Schoenberg PC op. 42 (7 points)
Carter Oboe Concerto (6 points)
Maderna VC (5 points)
Busoni PC in C major op. 39 (4 points)
Ginastera Harp Concerto(3 points)
Walton Viola Concerto (2 points)
Falla Noches en los jardines de España (1 point)

[amw]

10 pts - Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 9 "Jenamy"

just noting my appreciation of the correct dedicatee's name in this post (also, good list)

[Wanderer]

I share the concerns, too many great works are left out. An insurrection against the arbitrary 10 limit and an expanded vote for 20 or 30 works might be in order. 
As is evident, "top-10" is far too restrictive, and really only suitable to pop charts and, concerning classical music, people who don't really listen to, like or are familiar with classical like we all here are.


Or else, you know, accept "the rulez" and stop whining.     

[Florestan]

The problem with Mozart is that there isn't one head and shoulders above the others. They are only head and shoulders (and navel) above the Doom And Gloom brigade.

Hah! 

[Wanderer]

Über-cool lists, Andrei and Rafael. 

Beethoven 4 for the win!

[Florestan]

As is evident, "top-10" is far too restrictive, and really only suitable to pop charts

Like the Eurovision of Classical Music Concertos --- ten points go to... Lithuania! 

[Florestan]

Beethoven 4 for the win!

I wouldn't mind it at all!

[Florestan]

What about them?  I don't consider any of the pieces on my list as representing doom and gloom.  Some of them have dark moments, like the Mozart on top of my list, but none of them are pessimistic.

I hope you'll give me that Vivaldi or Boccherini have a diferent way of not being pessimistic than Schoenberg or Berg.

[Mahlerian]

I hope you'll give me that Vivaldi or Boccherini have a diferent way of not being pessimistic than Schoenberg or Berg.

Sure.  But Schoenberg and Berg are closer to Mozart in the range and kind of expression than Mozart is to Vivaldi or Boccherini.

[Ken B]

Über-cool lists, Andrei and Rafael. 

Beethoven 4 for the win!

That was my top pick. Andrei can still change his vote!

I kept one spot in reserve. So Monkey Greg I cast a 1 point vote for Walton Viola

[kyjo]

  I must be the only member here who believes that Saint-saens 2nd and 5th (Egyptian) piano concertos are the best piano concertos of the romantic era fullstop!


   nobodys mentioned them...
  marvin

I love all the Saint-Saëns piano concertos nearly equally. Such tuneful, uplifting, and inventive works.

[ritter]

Über-cool lists, Andrei and Rafael. 

Thanks! Your Skalkottas could easily have been on my list as well...
N.B.: I changed the Ginastera from his VC to the Harp Concerto, which I actually like even more...

....
I kept one spot in reserve. So Monkey Greg I cast a 1 point vote for Walton Viola

Go, Walton, go!!!  That last movement of the Viola Concerto, allegro moderato, is quite something!

[Florestan]

Schoenberg and Berg are closer to Mozart in the range and kind of expression than Mozart is to Vivaldi or Boccherini.

I respectfully beg to differ. Ceteris paribus, the range and kind of expression is the same in all five cases.

[Florestan]

Andrei can still change his vote!

Given the context I won't, not even at a gunpoint!

Let me clearly and proudly come out of the closet: Mozart über alles!