10 favourite 'Lesser-known' piano concertos

[Cato]

Nicolai Tcherepnin's 2-movement concerto:

His son Alexander Tcherepnin's Piano Concerto #6:

A comment from YouTube:

"If professional pianists would ever get tired of performing Tchaikovsky #1 for the millionth time, they would delight audiences with this work."

[kyjo]

+1 on the André Mathieu 4th Piano Concerto in E minor. The "French Canadian Rachmaninov". 😎 I think it is quite the work!

Indeed! The slow movement is rapturously beautiful and the finale is a rip-roaring barnstormer in 5/4 or 5/8 time (IIRC). It's such a pity that Mathieu died so young!

[relm1]

Kevin Puts: Night (Piano Concerto)
Kurt Atterberg: Piano Concerto
Thierry Escaich: Fantaisie concertante for piano and orchestra
Ragnar Søderlind: Piano Concerto
William Alwyn: PIano Concerto No. 2
RVW: Piano Concerto
Kenneth Fuchs "Spiritualist" Piano concerto
Penderecki Resurrection Concerto
Malcolm Arnold: Fantasy on a Theme of John Field for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 116 (1975)
Lee Actor: Piano Concerto No. 2

[kyjo]

Kevin Puts: Night (Piano Concerto)
Kurt Atterberg: Piano Concerto
Thierry Escaich: Fantaisie concertante for piano and orchestra
Ragnar Søderlind: Piano Concerto
William Alwyn: PIano Concerto No. 2
RVW: Piano Concerto
Kenneth Fuchs "Spiritualist" Piano concerto
Penderecki Resurrection Concerto
Malcolm Arnold: Fantasy on a Theme of John Field for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 116 (1975)
Lee Actor: Piano Concerto No. 2

Glad to see Alwyn's PC no. 2 receiving so much attention in this thread - it's one of his very finest works in my view. Big thumbs-up as well for the Atterberg, RVW, and Arnold works, the latter of which is truly concerto-like in scope. I wish I could find a recording of the Søderlind concerto!

[Symphonic Addict]

List #2:

Eyvind Alnaes in D major (probably the most gloriously melodic PC I know by anyone, even above Rachmaninoff!!)
William Alwyn no. 2
Einar Englund no. 2
Lukas Foss no. 2
Milosz Magin no. 3
André Mathieu no. 4
Zara Levina no. 2
George Lloyd no. 4
Selim Palmgren no. 2 The River
Emil von Sauer no. 1

I have yet to hear the Lloyd. A shame it's not available for streaming at least.

[Lisztianwagner]

In no particular order:

Bortkiewicz Piano Concerto No. 1
Tveitt Piano Concerto No. 4 'Aurora Borealis'
Schnittke Concerto for piano and strings
Lutoslawski Piano Concerto
Paderewski Piano Concerto in A minor
Gerhard Concerto for piano and strings
Schulhoff Concerto for piano and small orchestra
Respighi Piano Concerto in A minor
Atterberg Piano Concerto in B flat minor
Moszkowski Piano Concerto in E major

Wow, looking at your mentions, I must really admit I have a lot to learn from you, gentlemen!

[Karl Henning]

Cage Concert for Piano & Orchestra
Chick Corea
Flagello № 1
Hindemith Konzertmusik for piano, brass and two harps, Op. 49
Leon Kirchner
Khatchaturian
Malipiero Variazioni senza tema
Mennin
Wuorinen № 3
Wuorinen № 4

[relm1]

Glad to see Alwyn's PC no. 2 receiving so much attention in this thread - it's one of his very finest works in my view. Big thumbs-up as well for the Atterberg, RVW, and Arnold works, the latter of which is truly concerto-like in scope. I wish I could find a recording of the Søderlind concerto!

Me too about Søderlind.  I am basing my opinion on reading the score!

[kyjo]

I have yet to hear the Lloyd. A shame it's not available for streaming at least.

A shame indeed! I was fortunate enough to pick up a physical copy of the Albany CD containing it at a shop several years ago. It's a delightfully tuneful work up to Lloyd's usual high standard. His 2nd PC is also absent from streaming services and YT, unfortunately.

[kyjo]

In no particular order:

Bortkiewicz Piano Concerto No. 1
Tveitt Piano Concerto No. 4 'Aurora Borealis'
Schnittke Concerto for piano and strings
Lutoslawski Piano Concerto
Paderewski Piano Concerto in A minor
Gerhard Concerto for piano and strings
Schulhoff Concerto for piano and small orchestra
Respighi Piano Concerto in A minor
Atterberg Piano Concerto in B flat minor
Moszkowski Piano Concerto in E major

Wow, looking at your mentions, I must really admit I have a lot to learn from you, gentlemen!

Fantastic choices, Ilaria!

[kyjo]

Cage Concert for Piano & Orchestra
Chick Corea
Flagello № 1
Hindemith Konzertmusik for piano, brass and two harps, Op. 49
Leon Kirchner
Khatchaturian
Malipiero Variazioni senza tema
Mennin
Wuorinen № 3
Wuorinen № 4

Interesting list, Karl! I only know the Khachaturian and possibly the Mennin.

[Mapman]

Interesting list, Karl! I only know the Khachaturian and possibly the Mennin.

Karl recommended the Hindemith Op. 49 to me recently, and I enjoyed it. (I'd also enjoyed Kleine Kammermusik.)

[Florestan]

Eyvind Alnaes in D major (probably the most gloriously melodic PC I know by anyone, even above Rachmaninoff!!)

Quite the claim but I'm afraid I have to disagree. I've just listened to this concerto in the Hyperion recording (Piers Lane / Andrew Litton / Bergen PO). The only tune that stays in my head is... the one that resembles Rachmaninoff's most famous variation in the Paganini Rhapsody. 

No, really, I can think of a dozen concertos whose melodies are much more memorable: Schumann, Grieg, Tchaikovsky 1, Mendelssohn (both), Chopin (both), Brahms (both), Rachmaninoff 2 and 3 --- and that without even mentioning Mozart and Beethoven.

Really sorry to spoil your party, Kyle, but I can't help it.

[kyjo]

Quite the claim but I'm afraid I have to disagree. I've just listened to this concerto in the Hyperion recording (Piers Lane / Andrew Litton / Bergen PO). The only tune that stays in my head is... the one that resembles Rachmaninoff's most famous variation in the Paganini Rhapsody. 

No, really, I can think of a dozen concertos whose melodies are much more memorable: Schumann, Grieg, Tchaikovsky 1, Mendelssohn (both), Chopin (both), Brahms (both), Rachmaninoff 2 and 3 --- and that without even mentioning Mozart and Beethoven.

Really sorry to spoil your party, Kyle, but I can't help it.

Where's the "dislike" button??   I would've thought this concerto would be right up your alley, Andrei. Oh well, there's no accounting for taste!

Also, FYI the Alnaes was composed 20 years before Rach's Paganini Rhapsody.

[Florestan]

Where's the "dislike" button??   I would've thought this concerto would be right up your alley, Andrei. Oh well, there's no accounting for taste!

Don't get me wrong, Kyle: I did like it. A lot. What I can't agree with is your assertion that it is "probably the most gloriously melodic PC I know by anyone, even above Rachmaninoff!!". I'm sorry but in terms of memorable tunefulness it doesn't come even close to Rachmaninoff 2.

Also, FYI the Alnaes was composed 20 years before Rach's Paganini Rhapsody.

I am aware of that. The resemblance is a mere coincidence: first, there is no evidence that Rachmaninoff knew the Alnaes and second, Rachmaninoff's tune is simply the inversion of Paganini's.

[kyjo]

Don't get me wrong, Kyle: I did like it. A lot. What I can't agree with is your assertion that it is "probably the most gloriously melodic PC I know by anyone, even above Rachmaninoff!!". I'm sorry but in terms of memorable tunefulness it doesn't come even close to Rachmaninoff 2.

I am aware of that. The resemblance is a mere coincidence: first, there is no evidence that Rachmaninoff knew the Alnaes and second, Rachmaninoff's tune is simply the inversion of Paganini's.

Fair enough! I suppose we all perceieve "memorability" differently. Of course, we can both agree that Rachmaninoff's 2nd PC is one of most melodically memorable works ever composed!