Joshua Bell performs the Glazanov Concerto for Violin with the New York Philharmonic, 2014 (Photo: Chris Lee)
Compositions in the concerto form—featuring the interplay of an instrumental soloist and a full orchestra—can offer audiences some of the most thrilling of listening experiences. Saul Lilienstein, an expert in classical music and opera, delves into the structure, history, and the inherent drama of the concerto as he surveys and discusses nearly two dozen outstanding recorded examples of works from three centuries.
9:30–10:45 a.m. Bach and Mozart.
The keyboard concertos of these two masters dominated the form through the 18th century. Hear complete movements from Bach’s harpsichord concertos and Mozart’s final series of concertos for piano and orchestra.
11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Beethoven and Beyond
Beethoven’s five piano concertos gradually expanded beyond the classical tradition and set a standard for the 19th century. The importance of the solo violin is established in his only concerto for that instrument. Mendelssohn follows with his own in the 1840s, and it became the most frequently performed of all concerti for the violin.
12:15–1:15 p.m. Lunch (participants provide their own)
1:15–2:45 p.m. The Era of the Virtuoso
By the later 19th century, the concerto achieved symphonic proportions and it became the vehicle for virtuosic stardom. With his Concerto for the Cello, Dvorak brought that instrument into the limelight, and works by Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Bruch gave piano and violin soloists their own opportunities to shine.
3–4:15 p.m. Into the 20th Century
The full symphonic concerto style is continued by Sibelius, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff. While each composer honors that tradition, they also find ways to add fresh insights and challenges for performers and audiences.
