Two masterpieces of piano literature of entirely different character: The very lively three-movement Piano Concerto in G major is characterized, with regard to style, by jazz influences, especially in the first and third movements, but by late Romantic and impressionist influences in the middle movement. Ravel himself called it 'a concerto in the truest sense of this generic term: With that, I want to say that it has been written in the spirit of the concertos by Mozart and Saint-Saëns.'
The one-movement concerto in D major for the left hand combines powerful monumental sounds with a slender exotic orchestration. Commissioned by the Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein whose right arm had to be amputated following a war injury, the one-movement piano setting seems amazingly complete all the same. The technical realization of this piece is a real challenge for the pianist, but the work fascinates by its intensity, power, sensuality, exoticism and beauty.
Instrumentation:
piano and orchestra