Robert Schumann
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Béla Bartók
Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123

Martin Kasík – piano
Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava
Conducted by students of the Zurich University of the Arts led by Johannes Schlaefli:
Nil Venditti
Izabele Jankauskaite
Teresa Riveiro Boehm
Luis Toro Araya
Chris Blex
Jascha von der Goltz

Robert Schumann finished his paradoxically only piano concerto in 1845 with the vision of a particular interpret. It would not be anyone but his wife Clara, a renowned pianist. Schumann dedicated to her an intimate, lyrical fantastical piece, not a concert of effective and shallow passages. The author himself mentions this fact in a letter to his wife: “I already told you, as far as concerts are concerned, that they are a compromise between a symphony, a concerto, and a huge sonata. I see I cannot write a Concerto for the virtuoso; I must plan something else.” The piano part creates a harmonious unit with the orchestra.

The Concerto for Orchestra was composed by Bártok in 1943 in his American exile. It was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s chief conductor Serge Koussevitzky, who also premiered it a year later. It is one of the most performed and recorded orchestral pieces of the 20^th century. Bártok explained he chose its confusing name for the soloist, almost virtuoso, approach to each instrument family. The instrumental and thematic variety and richness of the piece ensures that there is not a single boring moment throughout the performance.