Prokofiev: Piano concerto no. 2 in g minor op. 16 Prokofiev’s second piano concerto, despite its first version being written just one year after the first concerto, a feels like the opposite of it. This concerto lasts more than 30 minutes, and, besides being technically demanding for the soloist, it explores the darker side of human emotions. The composer wrote this piece in the memory of his friend, Maximilian Schmidthoff, who committed suicide.
The first version was written in 1912, and the first performance happened in 1913. As the consequence of the Russian Revolution, the manuscript was destroyed by fire, and Prokofiev reconstructed it in 1923, experimenting with different types of polyphony. The reconstructed version was premiered in 1924, Paris, with Serge Koussevitzky.
It has four movements, with recurring themes and motives creating the synthesis between them.
I. Andantino-Allegretto II. Scherzo: Vivace III. Intermezzo: Allegro moderato IV. Finale-Allegro tempestoso
The recording I chose for this concerto is one I hold very close to my heart. Pianist Evgeny Kissin and Vladimir Ashkenazy, who is both a pianist and a conductor, but here he conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra, make a great team and let the listener drown into the emotional depths of the piece.
Noémi Baki-Szmaler, guest editor, @une-barque-sur-l-ocean
