Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Korngold)
Encyclopedia
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in C-sharp, Op. 17, was written on commission from Paul Wittgenstein
in 1923, and published in 1926. It was only the second such concerto ever written, after the Concerto in E flat by Géza Zichy
, published in 1895.
Wittgenstein, who lost an arm in World War I, was to commission works from composers such as Maurice Ravel
, Richard Strauss
, Sergei Prokofiev
and Paul Hindemith
, but Korngold was one of the first composers he approached. At that time, Korngold was the most performed composer in Germany and Austria after Strauss, and, despite being only in his mid-twenties, had already written a number of operas, including his greatest triumph Die tote Stadt
.
The Concerto for the Left Hand is cast in one continuous movement, which progresses through various moods and three main sections:
It was premiered in Vienna
on 22 September 1924 with Wittgenstein as soloist and the composer conducting.
In many other cases, Wittgenstein required certain revisions to the works he commissioned, but not in the Korngold case. He was so happy with what Korngold wrote that he commissioned another work, the Suite for 2 violins, cello and piano left-hand, Op. 23.
Wittgenstein owned the exclusive performing rights to the Concerto until his death in 1961, and it gradually slipped from the repertoire. It was revived by Gary Graffman
, who gave it its United Kingdom premiere in 1985 and it has since had a number of performances.
It has been recorded by Marc-André Hamelin
, Howard Shelley
, and Steven de Groote.
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austro-Hungarian film and romantic music composer. While his compositional style was considered well out of vogue at the time he died, his music has more recently undergone a reevaluation and a gradual reawakening of interest...
's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in C-sharp, Op. 17, was written on commission from Paul Wittgenstein
Paul Wittgenstein
Paul Wittgenstein was an Austrian-born concert pianist, who became known for his ability to play with just his left hand, after he lost his right arm during the First World War. He devised novel techniques, including pedal and hand-movement combinations, that allowed him to play chords previously...
in 1923, and published in 1926. It was only the second such concerto ever written, after the Concerto in E flat by Géza Zichy
Géza Zichy
Géza Zichy was a Hungarian composer and was also renowned as the world's first professional one-armed pianist.-Biography:...
, published in 1895.
Wittgenstein, who lost an arm in World War I, was to commission works from composers such as Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
, Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
and Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
, but Korngold was one of the first composers he approached. At that time, Korngold was the most performed composer in Germany and Austria after Strauss, and, despite being only in his mid-twenties, had already written a number of operas, including his greatest triumph Die tote Stadt
Die tote Stadt
Die tote Stadt is an opera in three acts by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The libretto is by the composer and Paul Schott , and is based on Bruges-la-Morte, a short novel by Georges Rodenbach.-Performance history:When Die tote Stadt had its premiere on December 4, 1920, Korngold was just 23...
.
The Concerto for the Left Hand is cast in one continuous movement, which progresses through various moods and three main sections:
- 1. Mässiges Zeitmass (moderate tempo)
- 2. Heldisch (hero-like)
- 3. Mit Feuer und Kraft (with fire and power).
It was premiered in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
on 22 September 1924 with Wittgenstein as soloist and the composer conducting.
In many other cases, Wittgenstein required certain revisions to the works he commissioned, but not in the Korngold case. He was so happy with what Korngold wrote that he commissioned another work, the Suite for 2 violins, cello and piano left-hand, Op. 23.
Wittgenstein owned the exclusive performing rights to the Concerto until his death in 1961, and it gradually slipped from the repertoire. It was revived by Gary Graffman
Gary Graffman
Gary Graffman is an American classical pianist, teacher of piano and music administrator.Graffman was born in New York City to Russian-Jewish parents. Having started piano at age 3, Graffman entered the Curtis Institute of Music at age 7 in 1936 as a piano student of Isabelle Vengerova...
, who gave it its United Kingdom premiere in 1985 and it has since had a number of performances.
It has been recorded by Marc-André Hamelin
Marc-André Hamelin
Marc-André Hamelin, OC, CQ, is a French Canadian virtuoso pianist and composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Marc-André Hamelin began his piano studies at the age of five. His father, a pharmacist by trade who was also a pianist, introduced him to the works of Alkan, Godowsky, and Sorabji when he was...
, Howard Shelley
Howard Shelley
Howard Gordon Shelley OBE is a British pianist and conductor. He was educated at Highgate School and the Royal College of Music...
, and Steven de Groote.