Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński - Piano Concerto in A flat major, Op 2

Ignacy Dobrzyński

 (15 February 1807 – 9 October 1867/60세) was a Polish pianist and composer

  

Piano Concerto in A flat major, Op 2

Mov.I: Allegro moderato 00:00
Mov.II: Andante espressivo 17:50
Mov.III: Rondo. Vivace ma non troppo 27:50

Pianist: Emilian Madey
Orchestra: Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Lukasz Borowicz

(1824, when the composer was 17), Howard Shelley (piano, conductor), Sinfonia Varsovia (live recording)
1.Allegro moderato – 0:00
2.Andante espressivo – 14:17
3.Rondo. Vivace ma non troppo – 21:19

Piano Concerto in A flat major, Op. 2 for piano and orchestra was composed the same year [1824] as Beethoven was completing his Symphony No. 6 in D minor. Despite the coincidental dates, it already belongs to a different era and although structured in keeping with the best Classical concerto designs, its character and exploitation of piano textures and orchestral tone-colours opens up new perspectives.

The piano which dominates is obliged to 'sing' in lyrical sections and 'shine' in virtuoso passages, scales and figurations. The orchestra is there to provide background for the soloist, only occasionally entering into dialogue with the piano or taking the lead. The work opens with an Allegro moderato movement in sonata form consisting of two subjects, development and coda. The fact that five years later Chopin would compose his Piano Concerto in F minorin a similar architectonic scheme to Dobrzynski's, gives food for thought and begs the question, was Chopin familiar with his colleague's work? There are many signs to suggest he was; therefore one can assume that even Chopin—most probably—exploited Dobrzynski's concept in a section of the second movement of his Concerto in F minor where against the background of orchestral tremolo the piano plays simultaneously in both hands recitative progressions of a dramatic character. Given the similarities between the works of the two composers we can make certain assumptions, such as for example, that Professor Elsner actually encouraged Chopin to model his concerto on Dobrzynski's composition...