Tchaikovsky : Piano Concerto No 1 - your favourite performance of the old warhorse

[Petrushka]

Weren’t they meant to record it together but HVK couldn’t stand Pogorelich or vice versa?

This, from Richard Osborne's Karajan biography (p. 683):

'An engagement to play the Tchaikovsky concerto with Karajan was every pianist's dream. It was, however, a terrible risk. Karajan collected star pianists as Duke Bluebeard collected wives. In Pogorelich's case, the union was never consummated. During a rehearsal in the Musikverein [with the Vienna Philharmonic], Karajan uncharacteristically ran out of patience. There were heated exchanges. Karajan got off the rostrum and hammered out the rhythm on the piano lid. At the end of the rehearsal, he announced: 'Tomorrow evening we play Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6'. Decoded, this meant, ' The concerto is cancelled'.'

[Barbirollians]

This, from Richard Osborne's Karajan biography (p. 683):

'An engagement to play the Tchaikovsky concerto with Karajan was every pianist's dream. It was, however, a terrible risk. Karajan collected star pianists as Duke Bluebeard collected wives. In Pogorelich's case, the union was never consummated. During a rehearsal in the Musikverein [with the Vienna Philharmonic], Karajan uncharacteristically ran out of patience. There were heated exchanges. Karajan got off the rostrum and hammered out the rhythm on the piano lid. At the end of the rehearsal, he announced: 'Tomorrow evening we play Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6'. Decoded, this meant, ' The concerto is cancelled'.'

Thought so - he recorded it with Richter of course not sure that was a meeting of minds but I liked it . With Lazar Berman it goes well.

[gurnemanz]

I recently acquired the John Ogdon version with Pierre Monteux and LSO live in Vienna in 1963 which RFG praised above. I don't play this work so often and playing it was a kind of re-discovery, as indeed was the recording itself, the tapes of which resurfaced in the early 1990s, having been lost for years. It appeared on Vanguard in good sound and with some magical playing. As with many of that label's recordings it is available quite cheaply on various historical download compilations. eg

[Petrushka]

Thought so - he recorded it with Richter of course not sure that was a meeting of minds but I liked it . With Lazar Berman it goes well.

I remember watching live the BPO/Karajan New Year's Eve performance of the Tchaikovsky PC1 with the young Yevgeny Kissin. Kissin did the business ok but looked absolutely terrified. I was half expecting him to burst into tears and do a runner.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...until I discovered the 2nd Concerto which, to me, is somewhat better all round.

I agree completely. A very fine work, maligned by some because the slow movement is like a triple concerto, but I don't see this as a problem.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I agree completely. A very fine work, maligned by some because the slow movement is like a triple concerto, but I don't see this as a problem.

That slow movement is also one of the most beautiful ever composed by Tschaikovsky which is a pretty high bar already…

[cloughie]

Thought so - he recorded it with Richter of course not sure that was a meeting of minds but I liked it . With Lazar Berman it goes well.

It was with the VSO not the BPO - I think it was probably due to Soviet Block restrictions on where Richter was allowed to be.

[Barbirollians]

It was with the VSO not the BPO - I think it was probably due to Soviet Block restrictions on where Richter was allowed to be.

Possibly that was the reason. . Rostropovich was allowed to record the Dvorak Cello Concerto with HVK and the BPO though.