Bortkiewicz - Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 16 (Shadrina, Sukach) [Christmas Special No. 4]

I. Lento, Allegro deciso - 00:00 II. Andante sostenuto - 16:17 III. Molto vivace e con brio - 22:07 Bortkiewicz’s Piano Concerto No 1 is one of the great ‘fun’ concertos with its heady bravura writing, lush orchestration, strong, well-wrought and effective material and, in the first movement, one of the most seductive, romantic themes of the whole genre. Hollywood never had it this good—close your eyes and black-and-white films of lost love, heartache and yearning passion are conjured up. If the other two movements are less successful they are only slightly so; the second is a gorgeously tuneful Andante, the Finale a Russian dance. Chronologically, of course, Hollywood has nothing to do with Bortkiewicz and his First Concerto. Dedicated to his wife, the work was premiered in 1912 (and published the following year), after which it was taken up enthusiastically. (Hyperion) Sergei Bortkiewicz Concerto No.1 for piano and orchestra in B flat major, Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra, Ukraine Olga Shadrina - piano, Ukraine Mykola Sukach - conductor, Ukraine Live recording 2020