Piano Concerto No. 2 (Moszkowski)

The Piano Concerto No. 2 in E major, Op.59 was composed by Moritz Moszkowski, a German-Jewish composer of Polish descent, in 1898. It is considered to be one of the most extraordinary works of the Romantic Era. It was dedicated to Josef Hofmann, a player who was to become one of the greatest piano virtuosi of all time.

Moritz Moszkowski in his twenties

Instrumentation

The work is scored for solo piano and an orchestra of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, triangle, harp and strings.

Structure
  1. Moderato, E major, around 12'00"
  2. Andante, C-sharp minor, around 08'30"
  3. Scherzo. Vivace, C-sharp minor -- D-flat major, around 06'30"
  4. Allegro deciso, E major, around 09'00"

First movement (Moderato)

This brilliant composition opens with what may be taken as its principal theme, inasmuch as it furnishes most of the material for the development, and also reappears in the last movement as a climax to the whole work. The announcement of this resolute subject (by flutes, oboes, clarinets and bassoons accompanied lightly by horns, violas, cellos and contrabasses) is followed by a short solo cadenza, after which the unfolding of the musical picture begins. As this proceeds, several subsidiary melodies come to notice, prominent among them being one which (while hinted at before) does not assume its formal shape until given out, grazioso, by the pianoforte alone following a short upward chromatic scale passage. This graceful subject also figures conspicuously in the development which, after passing through a succession of interesting stages, culminates finally in a rousing climax.

Second movement (Andante)

Marked Andante, the second movement is an eloquent, nocturne-like effusion, of which the principal thematic element is the expressive subject given out softly at the commencement by the clarinet, and bassoons, staccato, and the strings, pizzicato - this being taken up shortly and carried on by the solo instrument. An agreeably contrasting intermediary section follows, after which the expressive first theme returns - now in the harp and strings against flowing figurations in the solo instrument. And lastly, a free short conclusion passage that takes us to the third movement.

Third movement (Scherzo. Vivace)

The Scherzo, marked Vivace, is a sparkling composition in Moszkowski's characteristically brilliant manner. This busy movement commences with the statement of a nimble running theme by the solo instrument.

Fourth movement (Allegro deciso)

The finale opens with a short flourishing introductory passage which leads to the statement of a resolute theme by the solo instrument. After this has been developed at considerable length the pianoforte introduces a contrasting theme of flowing character, to which the clarinet attaches itself shortly. Presently the development of the resolute opening theme is resumed, leading to the entrance of still another subject, given out softy but decidedly by the clarinet and the violas, and worked up forthwith in alternation and combination with the resolute opening theme. The flowing second theme returns, the movement mounting thence to a climax, at the pinnacle of which the resolute opening theme of the first movement reappears in enlarged rhythm.

Recordings
Year Pianist Orchestra Conductor
1991 Piers Lane BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Jerzy Maksymiuk
1992 Michael Ponti Hamburg Symphony Orchestra Richard Kapp
1996 Markus Pawlik Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Anthony WIt
2013 Matti Raekalio Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra Leonard Grin
2015 Joseph Moog German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern Nicholas Milton

See also
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