Xaver Scharwenka - Piano Concerto No. 4 in F minor

- Composer: Franz Xaver Scharwenka (6 January 1850 -- 8 December 1924)
- Orchestra: Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra
- Conductor: Łukasz Borowicz
- Soloist: François Xavier Poizat
- Year of recording: 2009
Concerto for piano & orchestra No. 4 in F minor, Op. 82, written in 1908.
00:00 - I. Allegro patetico
19:28 - II. Intermezzo. Allegretto molto tranquillo
26:27 - III. Lento, mesto
35:46 - IV. Allegro con fuoco
Scharwenka's most outstanding and most popular compositions are his 4 piano concertos, works which made him famous as a composer and pianist on both sides of the Atlantic. The Concerto in F minor, is Scharwenka's last piano concerto. It crowns his experience of the form, and appears to be his final "coming to terms" with piano music, for the technical demands of the solo part reach the apex of performance skills, particularly in the outermost movements. The massive texture of the piano part based on octave repetitions and bravura passages, as well as sequences of broken chords in octaves, and virtuoso cadenzas covering the entire sound range of the instrument create an impression that the composer wanted to embrace the entire history of the form, as well as summarize achievements of the pianism of the time in a single composition. From the stylistic point of view, the concerto is an eclectic piece, which combines elements typical of brillante concertos with those typical of Mendelssohn's, Liszt's and Tchaikovsky's works. Thematic material is presented mainly by the orchestra, with the piano part instantly transforming it. Orchestra tutti are also intended to counterpoint bravura fragments of the solo part, or to provide chordal accompaniment.
Although the concerto consists of three movements, it lacks the usual classical structure, and proportions of particular elements are distorted. Instead of a typical slow fragment, the second movement is an Allegretto molto tranquillo of dance-like quality, which -- as noted by the composer in the score -- is the intermezzo between the first movement, and the beginning of the third movement, the Lento. An Allegro con fuoco, whose melodic pattern brings to mind Scharwenka's Polish folk-dances, forms the second part of the third movement, and, simultaneously, the finale proper. The formal integrating factor is the main theme of the Allegro patetico, which, at the same time, constitutes the core of the whole concerto. Reminiscences appear in the second and third movements. The theme is also present in the wind parts (bassoon, clarinet) of the third movement (following the Lento), announcing the following part of the movement, the final Allegro. Formally speaking, it is a very interesting example of a piano concerto whose virtuoso quality influences its structure.
The Piano Concerto had its première in Berlin in October 1908, with Scharwenka's pupil and later assistant, Martha Siebold, as soloist. Two years later the composer played the concerto himself in New York. Scharwenka, who appeared with the New York Symphony Orchestra under Gustav Mahler, described the evening in a rather laconic way: He conducted my work in an accomplished manner. It is a well-known fact that Scharwenka and Mahler did not get on particularly well. Following the New York première, Scharwenka played the concerto in America a number of times, both under Mahler and Leopold Stokowski, to great success.
Though a work of genius, its incredible technical and interpretational difficulty resulted in the Concerto in F minor being rejected by most pianists, even in Scharwenka's lifetime. Too demanding, too laborious, too many possible pifalls. And yet surely the prospect of an exceptional experience and rediscovery of this forgotten musical Atlantis is worth taking the risk?
The concerto is dedicated: "Ihrer Majestät der Königin Elisabeth von Rumänien ehrfurchtsvoll zugeeignet."

[@leestamm3187]

A splendid performance. As an interesting side note, Scharwenka performed this piece in concert on November 27, 1910 with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Gustav Mahler.

[@SCRIABINIST]

Similar to Rachmaninoff with his 3rd Concerto

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

That fourth movement is a masterpiece!

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

fourth movement is SUCH a banger

[@slubert]

wow he really like octaves

[@steveegallo3384]

slubert - Also Black Notes.....if you check the score, then you'll see that he uses so many of them.....

[@nghiavan8952]

@@steveegallo3384 And he likes Allegros and Allegro pateticos

[@mark-j-adderley]

Extraordinary example of virtuoso brilliance. Emblematic of its time. A monumental musical edifice of late romanticism which was soon to come crashing down with two world wars and the onset of modernism. A swan song celebrating the magnificent sunset on a magnificent epoch. I am very grateful for the post since I was not aquatinted with this composer. He is, perhaps, one of several notable composers languishing in the long shadows of his more famous contemporaries. Hidden composers who are worthy of discovery seem not to be uncommon in the history of classical western music, indeed even today, as we speak, who are the ones not being listened to, not getting a look-in ? 🙏

[@LeBingeDoctor]

Truly an unknown masterpiece. The cyclic theme is so emotional, and I think the last two movements belong among the greatest concerto piano movements.

[@opticalmixing23]

Allsthese composers must've been crazy hearing these sounds in head all time

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

37:16 my head starts moving on its own

[@igo.spekkyjarvonvreich]

so much

[@ravelmeister]

All the scharwenka concertos are great, this one is the best with no. 3 in a close second. Such a beautiful slow movement

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

You're sleeping on no.1

[@philipelwell4214]

This is a particularly fine concerto which I could listen to for eternity.

[@jppitman1]

Oliver Daniel`s biography "Stokowski, A Counterpoint of View" brought me here. The conductor made an enormous splash his first season in Cincinnati to the point that several music journals of the day sent their critics to the city to review some concerts. In 1911 among the works we`ve taken for granted, this piano concerto was one he had performed that season, too. Naturally if Stokowski thought it worthwhile. that was good enough for me to look it up. No disappointment here!

[@trp8155]

Just when you think you've seen it all, you find a new golden gem in the crown. Thank you for uploading these incredible pieces. I've discovered so much by your videos! :)

[@olla-vogala4090]

+trp8155 I'm happy to hear that! Slowly but surely forgotten gems like this are getting back their deserved spotlight this way :)

[@Pkmn20]

can gems be golden? 🤔

[@geniusrepairman1]

Topaz

[@Harry-gc8kb]

@@olla-vogala4090 Honest question - how are your videos not taken down with all your copyrighted scores?

[@marcalexandrefontenay9801]

Post brahmsien et proche de Liszt le 4 e de Scharwenka envoûte par ses mélodies et sa virtuosité ! Un pur délice !

[@pennsatucky7281]

The third movement is absolutely wonderful...

[@lodyneervoort]

Fabulous, thank you so much for sharing all this gorgeous music. Keep doing it. It really lifts up my spirit listening . Am 82 Year old music-lover.👍👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹🌹🆒🆒🆒🆒🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@maximiliankohn1147]

Ein wahres Zeugnis der romantischen Klavierkunst! Diese Finesse und Kraft des Orchester und diese Ästhetik des Klaviers bilden eine profilierende Einheit, die man nicht oft in Konzerten dieser Art findet. Zwar erinnert mich die harmonische Struktur etwas an Grieg, doch differenziert sich der Komponist trotzdem von der skandinavischen Melodik und schafft sich somit eine autonome Stellung. Bravo! Majestätisch! Grandios!

[@byronsutherland1380]

Majestic, grand and filled with poignant melodies. Why isn’t this performed more?

[@yowzephyr]

I don't know, but I would guess because of what is said in the second to last paragraph in the description above.

[@TheModicaLiszt]

Because it’s not modern enough for 1904

[@xamuca22]

Its on the top 10 of my favorite piano concertos.

[@aristotle719]

Been a fan of his Piano Concerti for a while. I never tire hearing another performer tackle the 4th. One of the most technically challenging? Sure, I clearly hear that. Great orchestration, too.

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

I bought a new cd at the time 25 years ago with Stephen Hough, as soloist. I used to play in my car every time I went out. Haven’t heard it for some time and forgot how thrilling the finale is.

[@bennyksmusicalworld]

This, along with Stenhammar 2 and Moszkowski, is one of my favorite underrated/unknown concertos.

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

Which Moszkowski

[@bennyksmusicalworld]

@@sebastian-benedictflore No 2

[@gregorypalmer5403]

@@sebastian-benedictflore Jerry.

[@TheModicaLiszt]

Bliss

[@OnTheHorizon]

all of his works are so underrated!

[@daniellu8282]

I searched a long time for great late romantic piano concertos that weren't written by Brahms, Chopin or Rachmaninoff. Incredible piano and symphonic writing. There's stuff in there that reminds me of Mahler.

[@vietanho1661]

There are a lot of them: Medtner, Moskowski, Poulenc, Faure with his Ballade, even Scriabin with his pre mature concerto ...

[@slothostpUL]

He is really great! Reminds me of Scharwenka.

[@marcalexandrefontenay9801]

Néoroman tique et post Lisztien ,Scharwenka nous subjugue avec ses 4 concerti et en particulier le dernier ! Interprétation hors pair !

[@jackgallagher9949]

A remarkable work, particularly stunning in its expansive, Olympian first movement. Many thanks for posting this daunting gem!

[@Sathrandur]

I just happened to hear this work on the radio; that is how I discovered it. I've listened to it now here and I think it is an excellent concerto, my favourite of his four (I listened to the other three posted on your channel also). This is an interesting and exciting work, and since I liked the performance here I have just gone and purchased it (if I find a performance I like I will often try to buy that exact recording; sometimes other recordings disappoint when you've already heard one that you like). I also ended up buying a recording of his Symphony in C Minor while I was at it - I liked what I heard in the track samples.

[@chopin65]

Absolutely beautiful. Lush, intelligent, passionate, and full of joyful expression.

[@lyrianmusic]

What a wonderful concerto and a fine performance. Scharwenka's concerti need to find their way into the repertoire. I can't think of a more swashbuckling piece than the Second.

[@sangwooklee9965]

Incredibly well-crafted piece! Beautiful

[@JayveeSonata]

I haven't heard this concerto in a very long time - and it's as beautiful as I remembered it. Thanks for sharing it.

[@juancarlosdiazricci5320]

Excellent performance!! I wonder why such a wonderful composer has been almost disregarded in international repertoires.

[@sebastientraglia1351]

The melodies at 24:20 are just gorgeus! I would also say very soundtrack-like (Liszt's influence I guess)

[@hugokubarth9316]

was für ein verstecktes Juwel später Romantik! Danke fürs Ausgraben

[@emilyhutjes]

Very beautiful concert, thank you ! 💗🎵🎶🎹🎼🌷🌷🌷 (Netherlands) I have put this on Face-Book.

[@derleopard2]

Divine.

[@matthewwasco6046]

One of my favorite pieces of music, always looking for a live performance to attend, but so far unsuccessful. This should be in the pantheon of the most played concerti.

[@herminioteixeira5921]

Autores incríveis que poucos amantes da grande música conseguem ouvir.

[@charlesmchugh8811]

Passionate and charming by turns. Wonderful piece.

[@hadenplouffe3976]

To date one of the most terrifying concerto scores I've seen, though Busoni's still holds the place for most nightmarish score I've encountered in the concerto genre (though if I ever get my hands on the score to Dillon's Andromeda that could very easily change, lol).

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Haden Plouffe Yes the ending to this concerto is this ridiculous... I am not yet familiar with Dillon's Andromeda, I'll listen to it right now.

[@hadenplouffe3976]

+olla-vogala If you're not familiar with his style it can definitely be a tad overwhelming... the sheer density of musical information is off the charts and at first it's very difficult to figure out where the themes are. I wasn't very invested at first, but after a few more listens I honestly think it's one of the finest 21st century concertos, and without a doubt a high point in the "New Complexity" movement.

[@antonflegias]

La tonalità minore è sempre grandiosa.

[@kedimy]

Thank you for posting this beautiful piece of music. Have a wonderful day.

[@monteverdi1567]

Very interesting and attractive work! Thank you for sharing it!

[@jtdm5049]

Es la primera vez que oigo este co cierto y lo calificó de SOBERBIO. Gracias.

[@juan31188]

Tenes que escuchar los otros 3 anteriores, un genio olvidado.

[@jtdm5049]

@@juan31188 he seguido tu consejo y ya los he oído. Efectivamente los tres son muy buenos y me quedo con el n°3. Me pregunto ¿Dónde ha estado la obra de este autor que nos resulta tan desconocido? Saludos y gracias por el consejo. 👍

[@DavidMannMD]

Amazing left hand in the last movement!

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

So he finally composed a really fine concerto.

[@lodyneervoort]

Great, really enjoy it. I hope you keep sharing beautiful music. I have a Bluetooth headphone to listen with. It gives me the feeling being in a fantastically great concerthall, and it’s only 8:30 am.👍🤗🍾🥂happy Newyear.

[@filibertopierami6892]

Bellissimo!!!!

[@baldeochoudhary5567]

🍷 just a recommendation from ig and here i am.

[@user-ij5ih3ru6l]

シャルヴェンカのこの第４協奏曲は、ラフマニノフより劇的で、戦前のハリウッド映画音楽の雰囲気があります。初演を王妃の臨席で行ったのもうなずけます。

[@bowerdw]

Can't seem to find a way not to like it.

[@diegocastillo2272]

The beginning and the allegretto

[@eottoe2001]

François Xavier Poizat is quite the pianist.

[@dacoconutnut9503]

0:35 Liszt's B minor piano sonata

[@danielzaytsev820]

also like Chopin's op.25 nr.10

[@AokiKatsumata]

A glimpse of Chopin's 2nd Ballad, too

[@RobinLSL]

I've been listening to this concerto a lot, and honestly I think it might very well be at masterpiece level. I don't like Scharwenka's first two, number 3 is interesting but "weird", but this one really hits the spot in many, many ways. I'm considering practicing it...

[@PeterLunowPL]

start practising ,its fiendishly difficult:-)

[@donnytello1544]

I agree, this one is a big step up, especially the adagio

[@sergiocastellanospianista3780]

I see the full score of this concert and Scharwenka wrote variations and a few modifications, i wonder how It will sound

[@MusicSmith2]

I absolutely love this piano concerto! Do you know if it is possible to find the orchestra parts online somewhere? I am a student interested in orchestration, and this piece would be fun to analyze.

[@opticalmixing23]

Musicians are stuck with these sounds,it makes sense tht they would want to write it down

[@yowzephyr]

0:05 is a good place to start. ^

[@tigerlilja8]

Been looking everywhere for the 2-piano score (book), plus orchestra parts 😣 can't find them anywhere. I want to play this concerto :(

[@TomTom53421]

Astri Aareskjold its a great concerto right?

[@danieldelac6264]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@DemitNWC]

확실히 좀 덜 알려진 낭만파 작곡가들 피아노 협주곡 중에선 헨젤트1, 모슈콥2랑 샤르벤카4가 가장 들을만 한 것 같기도...

[@ObaksakidsATK]

굿

[@calebhu6383]

5:40

[@lifestyleastherapyafterstr9423]

Starting ~4:40, 5:48 sounds a lot like Schumann's Eusebius, with the turns in the right and especially the glissandos in the left! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZeTkIqlic5kkMk

[@vogelalsprophet]

Der 3. Satz!

[@guydebyl3586]

why haven't i heard his music before? What other quality music am I missing out on?

[@ulrichalbrecht9723]

Carl Reinecke piano concerts 1-4, violin concert, harp concert, piano compositions by Felix Blumenfeld , Sergej Lyapunov an d Sergej Bortkiewicz

[@jannis11]

nOIce

[@fulviopolce9785]

Eccezionale concerto!Sublime e nostalgicamente romantico.Peccato non sia eseguita in sala da concerto! Ottima la performance pianistica e orchestrale. Un grazie per questo stupendo inserimento.

[@mosz1854]

Francois Xavier Poizat's performance is no less brilliant than Stephen Hough's...

[@olla-vogala4090]

+mosz1854 Hough's recording is made on Hyperion label so I'm unable to use his recording if I wanted too.

[@tombennettband1485]

this looks incredibly hard to play!

[@realnigga19]

I swear all these late-romantic piano composers were just trying to outdo each other to the point. I love this piece but it feels a but gee golly does it look challenging. Gives off guitar hero 3 fire and the flames vibes for sure

[@Vcfuioo]

No

[@andrewpetersen5272]

In many ways I agree. Virtuosity and technical showmanship in so many of these late 19th century pieces overshadow musical inspiration.

[@randiey95]

11:07

[@daniellu8282]

0:22 5 variations on theme by Paganini. lolololololol

[@Xyriak]

36:02

[@harryandruschak2843]

"Like" on 28 December 2017

[@zeynepyorulmaz7084]

Vay be

[@rogernortman9219]

While it's loosely assembled if not great! and has iits dead spots, the 4 mvt. idee fixe form is highly imaginative. The emotions are sentimentality, nostalgia with elements of sarcasm and self pity. It's cute if not great.

[@andrewpetersen5272]

I have always liked it. But, I like Mozkowski more.

[@jerrycallison6125]

Two different composers with sublime musicality. I wouldn't try to place one above the other, myself. Unfortunately, both are mired in the "unknown and unplayed" morass of modern concert planning. If I found either on a reasonably local concert playlist, you can count on my finding a way to get there.

[@Terativ]

why the dislikes..? >:(

[@olla-vogala4090]

+Peter Wang Yes I was wondering about that too, especially since all 3 came together in like 5 minutes... maybe some kind of script?

[@harryandruschak2843]

+olla-vogala Trolls come in all forms and shapes, and the reasons for "dislikes" can vary. Most NASA videos get spammed with hundreds of dislikes from people claiming it is all fake, to those claiming to believe in a flat Earth. Building implosion videos get spammed by 9/11 conspiracy cockroaches. CERN gets spammed by religious fanatics. For all you know, the "dislikes" might be from disgruntled kazoo players.

[@chopin65]

Peter Wang Good question.

[@foid777]

As of 1/8/18 I count seven dislikes. Is that such a large number as to cause such surprise? Mind you, I like this work and voted so. But there is nothing egregious about 7 dislikes versus almost 200 likes.

[@CapetownCarework]

very beautiful figures, must be great to see live

[@devondelgado4147]

5:37 Chopin!

[@czeynerpianistproducercomp7155]

Chopin is 💩! Chopin is Overrated

[@ulrichalbrecht9723]

I cannot understand the problem you have with Chopin's music. He wrote wonderful piano music. Why must everything and everybody be compared . I like Chopin, Beethoven, Scharwenka, Czerny and all the others composers as well. Don't compare and hate, love them all and enjoy it!

[@rogernortman9219]

I see a lot of laudatory comments since mine a few weeks ago. Granted, it's friendly, amiable music, so much so that his pants fell down in public!

[@rogernortman9219]

one who can't "get it up" as in Concs. 1 and 2.

[@czeynerpianistproducercomp7155]

Better than the Overrated Chopin And Beethoven

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

Comparing a 1910 work to works written hundred (Beethoven) and seventy years (Chopin) earlier... Brilliant idea. Not!

[@petersimon5231]

@@Quotenwagnerianer Agreed! I love them all. Perhaps Czeyner had had enough of only hearing Chopin and Beethoven in concerts. For a while I'd also had enough of them but then I came back to listening to everything, this one certainly included. The comparison is what is rather lame, as you've suggested.

[@rogernortman9219]

I agree with those who the 4th is exciting but it is not better than the first 2. It is somewhat contrived, forced and full of sarcasm, implicit pathos, extreme emotional fluctuations, variation in musical quality and expresses a last-ditch effort to "get it up"!

[@tancreddehauteville764]

Boring, just piano fireworks with no melody. Bortkiewicz no.1 - now that is worth hearing!

[@petersimon5231]

Well, well... no melody? That depends on what kind of melodies do you like. I love Scharwenka's as well as Bortkiewicz's. Or perhaps you should clear your ears of the earwax?

[@tancreddehauteville764]

@@petersimon5231 I hear no melody with Scharwenka, and my ears are fine.

[@petersimon5231]

@@tancreddehauteville764 I guess you hear a lot of melodies by others with your fine ear, perhaps the problem is between your ears. Pity on you. From here a matter of taste so we have nothing to discuss further. Enjoy your Bach or Schnittke..

[@sucroseboy4940]

@@tancreddehauteville764 As a devout Bortkiewicz fan, i do favor his 1. concerto. However i encourage you to listen to this and his second, as the Scharwenka concertos have a lot of beautiful melodies, hidden underneath the showy parts. The final movement of his second concerto is an amazing quasi-scherzo, with a melody that is incredibly catchy

[@fflambeauutube]

Something of a potboiler: too many notes.

[@SeigneurReefShark]

There's never too many notes ...

[@rogernortman9219]

Scharwenka announced that he was going to write his "biggest" and "best" concerto. The result- coming from a minor mode, he forces tepid and oversentimentally lyrical meanderings, literally "pushes" the flow, grandstands his main theme, indulges in self pity throughout the 1st mvt. The scherzo gives further indulgence into recrimination and self sorrow. And the final coup de grace, the ungainly cymbal crash in the finale, all add up to the "over the hill" sarcasm of which Nielsen's 6th Symphony is the best example. While friendly and entertaining, this is clearly a composer who can no longer "get it up" as he so effectively does in Concs. 1 and 2, opp. 32 and 56.

[@erikbreathes]

1. no 2. chill dude saying that once is enough we get it youre not a fan 3. i like this the best out of his four (in case anyone cared)