Dvorak's Piano Concerto - a case of just neglect?

[Guest]

Try as I might, I've never 'got into' this work. The new recording played on Essential Classics this morning sounded fine, but failed to convince me that I need to hear it again any time soon. The first movement tried to make much out of little, but at least sometimes sounded like Dvorak - albeit not very good Dvorak - and seemed interminable. The second sounded like Chopin - not a compliment where piano concertos are concerned IMVHO - and the last movement sounded like Liszt (ditto). Phrases reminiscent of the Cello Concerto relieved the boredom, while reminding this listener of what a fine work the latter is. I quite like the Dvorak Violin concerto and the Romance, too - it's just the Piano Concerto that seems to fall short in more than one respect.

[Sir Velo]

The second sounded like Chopin - and the last movement sounded like Liszt

Sounds like it could be worth a listen then.

[salymap]

My only big CD box is Dvorak so I must see what I have there. I agree with the comments re other Dvorak concerti.
Even he has off days I guess.

Just got round to looking in Dvorak box. Mine is Rudolph Firkusny/St Louis SO/Walter Susskind.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm a big Dvorak lover but would still leave the pf conc near the bottom of the heap of discs to save as the house burns(*). I have the S. Richter/ C. Kleiber on LP and Firkusny/ Susskind in a very bargain CD-box.

(*) There are Dvorak discs even further down the pile however: the string quartet No 3 (61'43"!!) and the 1st symphony, a big, big yawn even in Kubelik's hands

[cloughie]

I'm a big Dvorak lover but would still leave the pf conc near the bottom of the heap of discs to save as the house burns(*). I have the S. Richter/ C. Kleiber on LP and Firkusny/ Susskind in a very bargain CD-box.

(*) There are Dvorak discs even further down the pile however: the string quartet No 3 (61'43"!!) and the 1st symphony, a big, big yawn even in Kubelik's hands

I'd add Sym 2 to the pile - Suk/Ancerl elevate the VC/Romance way up to the top of the Concerto list. Got to confess not listened to the PC for a while but my shelves boast two recordings - both by Firkusny conducted by Somogyi and Susskind - appears that Firkusny liked it as there are other recordings conducted by Neumann and Kubelik.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'd add Sym 2 to the pile - Suk/Ancerl elevate the VC/Romance way up to the top of the Concerto list. Got to confess not listened to the PC for a while but my shelves boast two recordings - both by Firkusny conducted by Somogyi and Susskind - appears that Firkusny liked it as there are other recordings conducted by Neumann and Kubelik.

Agree with you very much cloughie about the vc & romance, and Suk/ Ancerl. Grateful for the heads-up (heads-down?) re the 2nd symphony. It's the last gap in my Dvorak symphs having recently picked up s/h copies of 1 and 3. 3 is mildly interesting and I was wondering whether to risk a punt on 2. Probably will anyway if I should stumble across one, it's the collector/ librarian/ completist in me And hope springs eternal in the LMP breast...

I almost look forward to proving that my 40-yr abstention from no's 1-3 was a very sound decision. They can always go to Oxfam when there is no shelf-room left in the house and Mrs LMP gets serious about leaving me

[cloughie]

Agree with you very much cloughie about the vc & romance, and Suk/ Ancerl. Grateful for the heads-up (heads-down?) re the 2nd symphony. It's the last gap in my Dvorak symphs having recently picked up s/h copies of 1 and 3. 3 is mildly interesting and I was wondering whether to risk a punt on 2. Probably will anyway if I should stumble across one, it's the collector/ librarian/ completist in me And hope springs eternal in the LMP breast...

I almost look forward to proving that my 40-yr abstention from no's 1-3 was a very sound decision. They can always go to Oxfam when there is no shelf-room left in the house and Mrs LMP gets serious about leaving me

I think 3 is OK - I had the old Supraphon LP (Smetacek) back in the 60s and warmed to it - not as rambling as 1 or 2 and more like proper Dvorak.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sounds like it could be worth a listen then.

Oh, I think it's that, Sir V - but a second might prove less valuable. Entirely agree with the lack of enthusiasm in the comments about the Pno Conc and the first two Symphonies - astonishingly dull IMO for a composer so seemingly effortless and lyrical in so many of his later works.

[amateur51]

Sviatoslav Richter and Prague SO play Dvorak Piano Concerto Op.33 cond.V.Smetacek "live"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWmHhHO--A8

[LeMartinPecheur]

Notwithstanding our dismissive references to the first two symphonies (c1865) and the 3rd str 4tet (1869/70), the weakness of the pf conc does seem to stand out as a special case. This is from 1876, after the 5th symph, the string serenade, the double-bass str 5tet and cloughie's beloved violin romance.

I don't know any of D's operas or most of the str 4tets from these years, but all the works I do know are very bearable and usually much more than this. Even the mature Dvorak nods?? Or I suppose, he must be excused a 'miss' at his first proper shot at a full concerto (thus casually dismissing the 1865 cello concerto which I've never heard a note of...).

[Bryn]

Sviatoslav Richter and Prague SO play Dvorak Piano Concerto Op.33 cond.V.Smetacek "live"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWmHhHO--A8

Looks like that could actually be the Dvorak Piano Concerto, rather than the severely cut representation thereof which is to be found in the cheapo Brilliant Classics set of concertos (Firkusny). Firkusny did eventually come round to playing, and I think recording, the complete work, but that's not what you get in the Brilliant Classics set.

[Barbirollians]

Richter and Kleiber and turn it up loud !

[rauschwerk]

Richter and Kleiber and turn it up loud !

I fail to see how playing it loud might make poor music sound better. I have owned the Richter/Kleiber for years - I bought it for the Schubert coupling. When the Aimard/Harnoncourt version came out, Gramophone said, in effect, "Here is the version we have all been waiting for, which reveals this work as a masterpiece." or words to that effect. I bought it, but it inspired me not a bit more than Richter. Gervase Hughes, I fear, had it about right:-

"Here there was a surfeit of piano and a deficiency of concerto, a surfeit of padding and a deficiency of inspiration."

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I fail to see how playing it loud might make poor music sound better.

- a similar thought occured to me, too.

I have owned the Richter/Kleiber for years - I bought it for the Schubert coupling. When the Aimard/Harnoncourt version came out, Gramophone said, in effect, "Here is the version we have all been waiting for, which reveals this work as a masterpiece." or words to that effect. I bought it, but it inspired me not a bit more than Richter. Gervase Hughes, I fear, had it about right:-

"Here there was a surfeit of piano and a deficiency of concerto, a surfeit of padding and a deficiency of inspiration."

[Sir Velo]

I fail to see how playing it loud might make poor music sound better.

Possibly, although few orchestral showpieces fail to benefit from being played loud.