Piano Concertos, Fantastic Dances, Prelude & Fugue

Description

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) composed two piano concertos which, although very different, nevertheless reflect and complement the evolution of his musical and emotional universe. The Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35 (1933), for piano, trumpet and string orchestra, is a work of youthful fervor and originality. Shostakovich himself was the soloist at the premiere, demonstrating his virtuosity and biting humor. The concerto abounds in parody, irony and stylistic fantasy — qualities that would become a major characteristic of his music. The first movement alternates between dramatic and rousing passages and mischievous allusions to classical motifs. The second movement offers a surprisingly lyrical and melancholic interlude before the music plunges back into exuberant satire.