The greatest piano concertos of all time
These are some of the greatest piano concertos - the finest works ever written for piano with orchestra
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2
The ultimate technical challenge and test of stamina for any pianist, Prokofiev 2 drives forward like a freight train, pulling out of the station gracefully, tentatively, before hammering on its way.
The opening movement’s cadenza, so densely written it’s scored on three staves, is a white-knuckle test for any pianist, while the final movement is an unstoppable force of pure energy.
It’s also incredibly beautiful, the composer perfectly balancing virtuosity and aesthetics.
Chosen by former editor Oliver Condy
Read our reviews of the latest Prokofiev recordings here
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Khachaturian Piano Concerto
In the creepily sinuous Andante con anima second movement of Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, a distinctly eerie sound – like something from a horror movie – emerges from the back of the orchestra.
While this appearance of the musical saw (or, alternatively, the flexatone) gives the Armenian composer’s 1936 work a uniqueness within the concerto repertoire, there is a lot more to his Concerto than just that.
The opening movement is a riot of oriental colour and chromaticism, while the Allegro brillante finale hurls the soloist, orchestra and listeners towards a thrilling finish.
Chosen by deputy editor Jeremy Pound
Read our reviews of the latest Khachaturian recordings here
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Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5
Beethoven’s fifth and final piano concerto blazes with majesty and energy, its three movements ranging from transcendence to triumph.
Cast in the heroic key of E flat major, this 1811 concerto is full of confidence and joy – listening to it can’t fail to lift one’s spirits.
The piece is at its most magical in the Adagio un poco mosso, a hymn-like movement in B major that seems to take us to another realm.
Chosen by managing editor Rebecca Franks
Read our reviews of the latest Beethoven recordings here
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Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2
Is there a more romantic concerto? Okay, the work is now imbued with the heady emotion of David Lean’s classic film Brief Encounter (1945) and it’s easy to see why it was chosen as the soundtrack.
It’s a musical rollercoaster of contemplation and elation–which it ably added to what might have otherwise been a bit of a staid drama.
Written while Rachmaninov was coming through a deep depression, the music does appear to render, in vivid hues, the complexities of human emotion – from the darkness of self-doubt to the intoxicating release that comes when the light is finally allowed in.
Chosen by reviews editor Michael Beek
Read our reviews of the latest Rachmaninov recordings here
Ravel Piano Concerto
A whip crack. Jazz-infused melodies. A soundworld taking inspiration from Basque and Spanish music. What’s not to enjoy? Ravel’s concerto manages to achieve real emotional depth while also giving us the perfect party piece.
After the first movement, which is full of fire and fun, the second movement takes a step back and explores a much more serene landscape.
The piece ends with a final movement travelling through a series of unexpected key signatures to revisit the initial feisty atmosphere. It’s got everything you could wish for in a piano concerto.
Chosen by editorial assistant Freya Parr
Authors
Freya Parr is BBC Music Magazine's Digital Editor and Staff Writer. She has also written for titles including the Guardian, Circus Journal, Frankie and Suitcase Magazine, and runs The Noiseletter, a fortnightly arts and culture publication. Freya's main areas of interest and research lie in 20th-century and contemporary music.
