Having been born in the month of May, I somehow feel that this is a special month, deserving of a very special choice of music! Perhaps it will be of no surprise then, when I recommend Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor.
For many years this piece has been a firm favourite in our family but a few weeks ago I was to join my wife at a concert performance of this work at Edinburgh’s famous Usher Hall. I sat through this particular concerto, played by the mercurial, Stephen Hough, simply mesmerised by the virtuosity, balanced perfectly with romantic beauty. It was a very special experience.
Grieg wrote his only piano concerto during the summer of 1868 whilst recuperating in Denmark after a period of extreme exhaustion. One of his most defining moments was on the occasion of his second meeting with the great Franz Liszt in Rome. He recalls this meeting, “I had fortunately received the manuscript of my concerto from Leipzig and took it with me. A number of musicians were present. ‘Will you play?’ asked Liszt. I declined, for, as you know, I had never practiced it. Liszt took the manuscript, went to the piano and said to the assembled guests: ‘Very well, then, I will show you that I also cannot.’ Then he began. I admit that he took the first part too fast, but later on, when I had a chance to indicate the tempo, he played as only he can play. His demeanour is worth any price to see. In the Adagio and still more in the Finale he reached a climax, both in the playing and in the praise he bestowed. When all was over he handed me the manuscript and said in a peculiarly cordial tone ‘Keep steadily on, you have the ability and do not let them intimidate you!’
What an experience for the young Grieg. Whenever I hear this concerto I recall this thrilling encounter. This concerto is often compared to the piano concerto of Robert Schumann, the opening descending flourish on the piano is similar but, I have to say that the opening bars are simply impossible to confuse with any other piece of music.
My recommended disc is a performance by Murray Perahia with the Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, conducted by Sir Colin Davis on the Sony Classical Masters Label. I guarantee that readers of this recommendation will not be disappointed. The Grieg Piano Concerto is paired with Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor.