Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major, Op. 10
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
THE STORY
Prokofiev began composing his First Piano Concerto while still a student, in the summer of 1910. He had spent his teenage years at the St. Petersburg Conservatory—dazzling instructors and fellow students with his ability while simultaneously infuriating them with his unshakeable belief in his own musical sensibilities. The Concerto was completed in 1911 and premiered in July of 1912 with the composer as the soloist.
By this time, word of Prokofiev’s skill as a pianist had spread and the performance was attended by a massive audience, with reports ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 spectators. Like many meaningful works of art, the reception to the work was mixed—some critics called it derivative and nonsensical, while others deemed it brilliant and imaginative.
The premiere of the Concerto shortly preceded Prokofiev’s graduation. He entered the piano competition for the Rubinstein Award, which awarded a grand piano to the winner. His competitors chose to play standard concertos, but Prokofiev decided to enter with his own First Piano Concerto.
The jurors were immediately at odds, with some demanding Prokofiev be ejected from the competition for his arrogance and others proclaiming he deserved “a dozen grand pianos.” In the end, the young phenom’s artistry was undeniable and he was awarded the prize.
LISTEN FOR
- The transition in the first movement from the grand romantic introduction into the scampering, joke-like faster section started by the solo piano
- A lyrical, eerie melody in the violins followed by a clarinet solo, which signals the start of the second movement after only a short pause
- Quick rhythmic patterns in the final sections influenced by an Italian folk dance called the tarantella, characterized by quick footwork and upbeat music
INSTRUMENTATION
Solo piano; piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings
