Ferruccio Busoni - Piano Concerto

Ferruccio Busoni: 

Piano Concerto

Christoph von Dohnanyi,
The Cleveland Orchestra & Men's Chorus, Garrick Ohlsson

1.I. Prologo e Introito: Allegro, dolce e solenne 15:28   

2 II. Pezzo giocoso: Vivacemente, ma senza fretta 9:53   

3 III. Pezzo serioso: Andante sostenuto, pensoso 23:02   

4 IV. All' Italiana: Vivace 12:53   

5.V. Cantico: Largamente, piu moderato 10:27

Ferrucio Busoni is certainly not one of those high-profile composers. Nor is his piano concerto as compared to other composers of the time including Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. The biggest reason would have to be none other than its grandiosity and universal theme, and that's what it makes this piano concerto like no other... not to mention being highly underappreciated.

As Busoni did to his concerto, his better known friend and idol Gustav Mahler did to his symphonies, yet we know Mahler's symphonies far more than Busoni's massive piece probably because we tend to expect and tolerate more out of it on symphonies (which have evolved throughout time) than the more tradition-laden concerto music.

The piano concerto is in five movements instead of the usual three, about 70 minutes in length (twice as long as most others), and features a male choir in the last movement, fairly reminiscent of Beethoven's 9th and Mahler's 2nd.

Even so, I am more than pleased to be exposed to this peculiar and special piano concerto. I'm definitely no expert on Busoni or his music, but it's really worth while to give it a listen and, hopefully, appreciate how he transformed concerto music into a whole new level.

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The first "bravo" goes to Busoni (posthumously). A gigantic piano concerto with orchestra and male chorus is not the norm, and Busoni wrote it with style and flair.

The second "bravo" goes to Garrick Ohlsson. To simply sit on the piano bench for 70 minutes is a feat in itself. However, Ohlsson gives a brilliant performance of the piece. The lights and darks he pulls out of the Bosendorfer are amazing. His technique is flawless.

The third "bravo" is for Dohnanyi. He conducts the orchestra with fire, sensitivity, and discipline.

A first rate recording.