Composer

:

Bohuslav Martinu

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

Jan 3, 1943 - Feb 23, 1943

Publication Date

:

1948

First Performance

:

Nov 2, 1943

Average_duration

:

31:35

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Bohuslav Martinu's Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra, H. 292, was composed in 1943 during his exile in the United States. The piece was premiered on January 28, 1944, by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the composer himself and his wife, Vítězslava Kaprálová, as the soloists. The concerto consists of three movements: The first movement, marked Allegro moderato, begins with a lively and rhythmic theme played by the orchestra. The two pianos then enter with a playful and syncopated melody, which is developed throughout the movement. The soloists engage in a lively dialogue, exchanging virtuosic passages and playing in unison. The second movement, marked Largo, is a slow and contemplative piece. The orchestra introduces a melancholic theme, which is then taken up by the pianos. The soloists engage in a beautiful and expressive duet, accompanied by the orchestra's delicate and atmospheric textures. The third movement, marked Allegro, is a lively and energetic finale. The orchestra introduces a lively and rhythmic theme, which is then taken up by the pianos. The soloists engage in a virtuosic and playful dialogue, exchanging rapid passages and playing in unison. The movement ends with a triumphant and exuberant coda. The concerto is characterized by Martinu's distinctive style, which blends elements of neoclassicism, modernism, and Czech folk music. The piece is full of rhythmic vitality, melodic invention, and harmonic richness. The two pianos are treated as equal partners, engaging in a lively and virtuosic dialogue throughout the piece. The orchestration is colorful and imaginative, with a wide range of textures and timbres. Overall, Martinu's Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra, H. 292, is a masterpiece of 20th-century music, showcasing the composer's unique voice and his mastery of the concerto form.

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