Neglected works by popular composers

[Guest]

Many years ago, Garrick Ohlsson stated, in an interview on Radio 3, that his mission in life was to champion Dvorak's Piano Concerto, with the aim of establishing it in the regular concert repertoire. I think it's fair to say that he didn't succeed. The Violin Concerto doesn't get programmed very often either, as far as I'm aware. Would other Forum members care to cite examples of neglected works by popular composers, and offer reasons for that neglect?
In the case of the Dvorak violin concerto, could the reason be that it is not 'showy' enough for certain performers? Another example of such neglect is Tchaikowsky's 3rd ('Polish') Symphony; I wonder whether, in this case, it may simply be that it's not considered a particularly good example of the composer's oeuvre.

[Extra Vaganza]

Another example of such neglect is Tchaikowsky's 3rd ('Polish') Symphony; I wonder whether, in this case, it may simply be that it's not considered a particularly good example of the composer's oeuvre.

... It does sound to me a bit laboured, compared with his other symphonies and certainly following on from the charming "Little Russian" symphony.

And then pales in comparison with the might of Number 4.

I can't say that I'm that enamoured of "Winter Daydreams" either. That sounds to me like an exercise to test the medium.

The symphonies which are played the most are, in my opinion, the ones that deserve it.

Eva

[Pabmusic]

Obvious cases would include Tchaikovsky's 2nd piano concerto, which has been considered over-long (hence an old tradition of cuts) and less-than-inspired in the outer movements. The Brahms double gets many fewer outings that the other three concertos, but that's probably as much because it's more awkward to programme. Likewise the Beethoven triple. Mendelssohn's Reformation symphony is often considered rather earnest and...dull (certainly compared with the preceding two). Borodin's first symphony never gets a look-in - I'm not too sure why, except that, compared with the second...

A lot of this is just the inevitable result of comparisons of the creditable with masterpieces. If Grieg had written a second piano concerto, chances are it just wouldn't have had the freshness.

[umslopogaas]

Sibelius's 'Kullervo' symphony doesnt get much of an airing, given how popular the others are. Its also been a long time since I heard a Sibelius song on R3. Come to think of it, I dont seem to be hearing much Sibelius at all; is he out of favour? When, for example, did 'Luonnotar' last get a performance?

[salymap]

Mozart Piano concerto K242 for threepianos and orchestra. I've only heard it once in the concert hall, probably 50years ago.

Well,I tried tolook for this on the Proms Archive. Unbelievably,it only lists Mozart PC s numbers 25 and 27. Surely can't be true in all those years

[vinteuil]

Mozart Piano concerto K242 for three pianos and orchestra. I've only heard it once in the concert hall, probably 50years ago.

... saly - if you're a concert promoter - the cost of providing three concert grands is .... alarming! Hence few want to...

[salymap]

[QUOTE=vinteuil;198756]

Mozart Piano concerto K242 for three pianos and orchestra. I've only heard it once in the concert hall, probably 50years ago. QUOTE]


... saly - if you're a concert promoter - the cost of providing three concert grands is .... alarming! Hence few want to...

Yes Vinteuil, I appreciate that but it fitted the thread. Three young girls in pretty dresses, that's all I can remember of the occasion. But I was amazed to only find 2 Mozart PCs in the Proms Archives. I expect I pressed the wrong keys or something.

[Roehre]

... saly - if you're a concert promoter - the cost of providing three concert grands is .... alarming! Hence few want to...

But the concert promoter can have it played by two pianos in Mozart's own arrangement for 2 in stead of 3 pianos.
And AFAIK this might be a British premiere as well

[Serial_Apologist]

... saly - if you're a concert promoter - the cost of providing three concert grands is .... alarming! Hence few want to...

Maybe the next time they're staging Geoerge Antheil's "Ballet Mechanique"...

[salymap]

Then there's K365 for 2 pianos - that's not played much either- this in Eb, the triple in F,so they are not the same.

There must be a story behind Mozart writing these concertos.

[Roehre]

Then there's K365 for 2 pianos - that's not played much either- this in Eb, the triple in F,so they are not the same.

There must be a story behind Mozart writing these concertos.

Salymap, The E-flat KV365 is a concerto for two pianos and orchestra, the F KV242 is for three pianos and orchestra, but from the latter Mozart made an arrangement for two pianos. The version is i.a. included in Philips' 1990/1991 Complete Mozart Edition.

Both concertos were composed for pupils of Mozart's.

[salymap]

Salymap, The E-flat KV365 is a concerto for two pianos and orchestra, the F KV242 is for three pianos and orchestra, but from the latter Mozart made an arrangement for two pianos. The version is i.a. included in Philips' 1990/1991 Complete Mozart Edition.

Both concertos were composed for pupils of Mozart's.

Yes, I know Roehre. Breitkopf didn't have the 2 pno arr of the triple then, that 's all.

[Northender]

[QUOTE=salymap;198757]

Yes Vinteuil, I appreciate that but it fitted the thread. Three young girls in pretty dresses, that's all I can remember of the occasion. But I was amazed to only find 2 Mozart PCs in the Proms Archives. I expect I pressed the wrong keys or something.

Look under C (for 'concerto'), not P (for 'piano') - there have been any number of performances of most of them.
K242 has been played 3 times, and K365 no fewer than 31 times (starting in 1903)!

I remember the performance on 14th August 1981, which was televised. One of the soloists (Peter Frankl and Tomás Vásáry - I can't remember which) suffered a horrendous memory loss or something, floundered for a couple of bars and then came to a stop.

[salymap]

[QUOTE=Northender;198793]

Look under C (for 'concerto'), not P (for 'piano') - there have been any number of performances of most of them.
K242 has been played 3 times, and K365 no fewer than 31 times (starting in 1903)!

I remember the performance on 14th August 1981, which was televised. One of the soloists (Peter Frankl and Tomás Vásáry - I can't remember which) suffered a horrendous memory loss or something, floundered for a couple of bars and then came to a stop.

Thanks, I knew it was me asI have heard many Mozart PC atthe proms. But why put2 concertos under piano concertos? Oh well, sorry.

[Tony Halstead]

Then there's K365 for 2 pianos - that's not played much either- this in Eb, the triple in F,so they are not the same.

There must be a story behind Mozart writing these concertos.

I well remember the last time I played ( in the orchestra) K365 in a context where two Steinways were used was in about 1979 at the Proms ( I've played it several times since then but in HIPP perfomances and/ or recordings where Stein or Walther/ Walter fortepianos were used).
The thing that sticks in my memory ( apart from the fact that the two soloists - Curzon and Barenboim - were superb ) is that Mr Barenboim in deference to Mr Curzon came on stage with 'the music' ( Curzon habitually didn't play from memory), placed his copy on the music stand, opened it at page 1 and then never turned any more pages over, as of course he played from memory!