Shostakovich: Concertos pour piano nos. 1 & 2

Kamu, Okko, Korobeinikov, Andrei, Lahti Symphony Orchestra

MIR 155

Following the death of Stalin in 1953, the Soviet Union enjoyed a period of relative liberalization, particularly in the field of culture, which allowed many artists to express themselves more freely without fear of government rebuke. During this period, Shostakovich composed some of his most passionate, emotional works, including the Tenth Symphony, Sixth String Quartet, and Second Piano Concerto. The piece was composed in 1956 and 1957 for his son, Maxim Shostakovich, who gave the first performance on May 10, 1957, his 19th birthday. The work retains the light-hearted, almost flippant character of the First Concerto, but eschews its dark cynicism, overflowing with rich, firmly drawn thematic ideas. The first movement opens with a light, lively bassoon introduction before the piano solo enters with the cleverly joking main theme, giving the movement its natural sense of momentum and flow from the outset. As in many of his other piano works, Shostakovich exhibits his love for the instrument's extremes, casting the melody several times in three-octave unison while the brilliant wind orchestrations provide a contrapuntal background. The dreamy slow movement, like the rest of the concerto, is straightforward in its structure and simple in its language. The finale, more than any other movement, showcases the youthful character Shostakovich intended for his son's performance, although at no point does the work sound condescending or patronizing. As a gentle family dig, Shostakovich includes passages in the final movement quoting the well known finger-facility exercises of Hanon, saying it was the only way he could get his son to practice them. The work is enjoyable for young and old, for performer and listener, alike.

CD x 1

Mirare

1/16/12

3760127221555