Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 1 in D-flat major, op. 10 Prokofiev was not only a great composer, but a well-know piano prodigy since an early age. He wrote his first piano concerto while still studying at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. Composed in 1911, and premiered in 1912 in Moscow, it is an essential piece of the modern piano repertoire. Despite its short length (it takes around 15 minutes to perform), it is full of humour and virtuoso runs, and it switches between 11 different tempo markings. He dedicated the work to the ’’dreadful Tcherepnin’’, who taught conducting at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory from 1905 to 1917.
The piece starts in D-flat major, which is usally associated with emotional and dreamlike music-well, Prokofiev has an interesting take on it. The first theme could be an opening theme of a Tchaikowsy concerto, but it does not last too long, and the next themes, full of sarcasm and playfulness, start to dominate. We can hear a slow section in the middle of the concerto which reminds me the way Franz Liszt composed his single movement piano concertos, welding together the three movements of the traditional concerto from.
In 1914, Prokofiev applied for the Anton Rubinstein Prize for pianists, and he won first prize with performing his own concerto. The head of the jury was Alexander Glazunow.
I chose a recording form 2005, with Martha Argerich being the soloist and Alexandre Rabinovitch conducting. I think that Argerich’s impeccable technique and fiery expressiveness fits the spirit of the young Prokofiev very well.
Noémi Baki-Szmaler, guest editor, @une-barque-sur-l-ocean
