Do you prefer concertos for piano or for violin?

[David Ayers]

I have heard many of the older and younger living greats playing piano concertos, some if them more times than I am really bothered about, and I realise that the concerto for piano outnumbers the violin concerto by far. But for whatever reason it is the violin repertoire I love. The piano concerto leaves me a little cold. More than a little in fact - I rarely listen to recordings of piano concertos and I don't have even one favorite which I keep rebuying (well, the Schoenberg I guess, but there aren't so many versions of that). The violin concertos I'll buy any number of times and never tire of hearing in concert even the ones I don't love so much. So - anyone else have a strong view on this?

[StarThrower]

My favorite piano concertos are by Bartok. I also like Prokofiev's No. 2, Barber, and Schnittke's concerto for piano and strings. I don't care much for romantic concertos of any kind.

As for violin concertos, Ligeti is probably my favorite. I also enjoy Dutilleux, Henze, Norgard, Berg, Schoenberg. I should give William Schuman's a listen. I'm a big fan of his symphonies.

[Spontooneous]

I'll admit to not being fond of several of the big violin concertos by the great composers. Mozart's are rote, Beethoven's seems oddly mechanical, Brahms' is dull, Tchaikovsky is trying too hard. But yes for Sibelius, Prokofiev 1, Berg, Schoenberg, Bartok 2 despite its last movement, Hindemith, both Shostakovich, parts of Britten, Ligeti. Starthrower has got me curious about Norgard.

But there's a lot of violin concertos that aren't much more than violin porn. So the violin concertos I return to are few.

As for piano, I love several Mozarts, Beethoven 4 especially, Mendelssohn, both Brahms, Schoenberg, Shostakovich 1 which is deeper than its reputation, Ligeti, Lutoslawski.

[A Lark Ascending]

Much prefer symphonies or other non-solo orchestral pieces to either. I like a more democratic use of the orchestra above the star soloist in the foreground.

Which is not to say that I don't enjoy many concertos. I also prefer 20thC examples. Can't say I have a preference for violin or piano.

[jazzbo]

I prefer piano concertos, though there are a few violin concertos that I have enjoyed. But I'm a neophyte. I may have a different answer in ten years.

[king ubu]

violin, I guess .... but not an easy call!

[Peter Friedman]

Contrary to some earlier posts, I have little if any interest in most of the 20th Century concertos. My clear interest is in the Classical and Romantic concertos.

Though I like many violin concertos very much, especially the Brahms and Beethoven, my preference would have to be the piano

concertos. As has been mentioned, there are far more concertos for piano than for violin. Those by Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann and Rachmaninoff are all favorites.

[Guy Berger]

Much prefer symphonies or other non-solo orchestral pieces to either. I like a more democratic use of the orchestra above the star soloist in the foreground.

Which is not to say that I don't enjoy many concertos. I also prefer 20thC examples. Can't say I have a preference for violin or piano.

More or less on the same page as Bev. Would rather have either an orchestral work or a solo instrument work. Concertos often seem to be an inferior hybrid.

[Tom 1960]

Not having too large a collection devoted to either, I too prefer the symphonic works, I would side with piano concertos. One example is a recent purchase of the Murray Perahia/Mozart Piano Concertos. Great stuff.

Edited September 14, 2014 by Tom 1960

[johnblitweiler]

Familiarity breeds contentment and I've heard more piano concertos than violin concertos.

[jazzbo]

Not having too large a collection devoted to either, I too prefer the symphonic works, I would side with piano concertos. One example is a recent purchase of the Murray Perahia/Mozart Piano Concertos. Great stuff.

I also really like those Perahia performances.

[David Ayers]

Familiarity breeds contentment and I've heard more piano concertos than violin concertos.

I hear piano concertos in concert all the time, but...

[MomsMobley]

Those of ya'll who enjoy Perahia Mozart should hear the Andras Schiff integrale conducted by Sandor Vegh; not that Schiff is all that much woolier (alas) but Vegh conducting the Salzburg Mozarteum DESTROYS Murray & the ECO in every conceivable way. An even greater step for those accustomed to the generalized blandness (and that's absolutely what it is) of Perahia/ECO can he heard in the recordings-- not complete-- of Andreas Staier with the Concerto Koln. Given Mozart's genius as orchestral composer etc, nobody should settle for the ubiquitous less. (Again, I'm not hugely suggesting Schiff over Perahia in this repertoire-- both musicians made MUCH better recordings of other repertoire later-- but Vegh >>>>>>>.)

re: violin concertos... Nielsen, Sibelius, Berg, Szymanowski, Reger, Petterson, Hindemith, Korngold, Penderecki, Prokofiev, DSCH, Elgar, Walton, Delius, Rautavaara, Frank Martin, Bartok, Delius, Martinu...

[David Ayers]

Just heard Matsuev in Prokofiev 3 with LSO under maestro toothpick from ten feet away. I take it all back.

[StarThrower]

Playing the Hilary Hahn Schoenberg CD now. This is a superb recording!

[David Ayers]

Playing the Hilary Hahn Schoenberg CD now. This is a superb recording!

Agree.

[A Lark Ascending]

Changed my mind on this a bit.

Still prefer orchestral music without a dominating instrument, but...

Think I prefer violin to piano.

In 'Romantic' music both can be a liability (for my ears) - all that heavy handed crashing around on the piano is counterbalanced by an extra-sugar feel to violin concertos (I'm much more comfortable when the extra sugar starts to go off and emit a rather peculiar odour in Late-Romantic music).

However, in 20th C music I like the way the violin can sound like the bow has a serrated edge. It's harder to write for a piano against an orchestra without it getting all portentous. I'm probably talking bollox here but it's almost as if a violin can cut through a large orchestra and still remain agile where I piano needs to do a lumpy 'look I'm here' sort of thing to get heard (either that or the composer has to tone down the orchestra so more delicate piano writing can get through). I'm sure you can all list dozens of concertos to prove me wrong...I'll probably come across a few myself to explode my prejudices.

I do like a lot of piano concertos. But when I'm exploring a composer I tend to leave the piano concertos until last unless I read a lot of enthusiasm for one.

[MomsMobley]

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