By The Fryderyk Chopin Institute
Paweł Bień (Chopin Institute)
The Pic-Nic Orchestra (April 23, 1802) by James Gillray|Hannah HumphreyThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Musical Dialogue
The Piano Concerto is a kind of dialogue between the orchestra (tutti) and the pianist (soloist). This conversation can be an energetic exchange of arguments, a lyrical confession or... a brilliant joke! Chopin made use of all these possibilities.
The three parts of a classical piano concerto
The first is a monumental introduction containing the main musical idea. The second movement, mostly lyrical, is kept at a slower pace, while the third takes the form of the finale, in which the lively pace favors the showpiece parts that demonstrate the soloist's virtuosity.
When composing his concertos, young Chopin relied on that classical division.
Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin (19th Century) by UnkownThe Fryderyk Chopin Institute
Two and a half concertos
It can be jokingly said that Chopin wrote two and a half concertos. He finished the first two before leaving Poland, and the third one remained forever in the form of a draft.
Moreover, only the first part of the third concerto was planned. The other two were either never created or remained in the composer's mind.
Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21 (19th Century) by Fryderyk ChopinThe Fryderyk Chopin Institute
Which was first?
The first concerto written by Chopin is the Concerto in F minor, which today appears in the list of the author's compositions as… the second. The confusion is due to the fact that the composer first published the concerto in E minor, although it was written later.
Portrait of Fryderyk Chopin at the piano (1838) by Jakob GötzenbergerThe Fryderyk Chopin Institute
The brilliant style
Chopin wrote his both concertos in the brilliant style, which was a triumph at that time. It was characterized by a brilliant virtuosity of the soloist's technical performance, but also a tendency to singing, sometimes with very romantic themes.
Despite their similarity to concertos by Hummel, Kalkbrenner or Dobrzyński, Chopin's works are characterized by depth and freshness, praised by critics.
Moonrise over the Sea (1822) by Caspar David FriedrichAlte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Love confession
Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21 was written from the autumn of 1829 to the spring of the following year. Chopin paid particular attention to the middle section, which he gave the form of a love confession.
Portrait of Konstancja Gładkowska (after 1880) by Wojciech Gerson (?)The Fryderyk Chopin Institute
In a letter to Tytus Woyciechowski, he confided: Because I already –perhaps fortunately– have my ideal, which I have been serving faithfully, not speaking with him, for half a year now, which I dream about, and in memory of which there is an adagio for my Concerto.
Dancing Lesson, the "Mazurka". (before 1917) by Karl Karlovitz BullaThe J. Paul Getty Museum
Semplice ma graziosamente
After the lyrical confession of affection –most likely for Konstancja Gładkowska– comes the third movement, in which Chopin surprises the audience with brilliant references to Polish folklore.
The composer himself suggests that it should be played semplice ma graziosamente, i.e. with simplicity and charm at the same time.
Spring Landscape (1862) by Charles-François DaubignyAlte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Springtime, by the moon
Chopin decided to open the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11 - as in the previous case - with a monumental introduction followed by a nostalgic theme, the piece resounds with polonaise and nocturne echoes.
While the twenty-year-old author quickly wrote the first two parts at the beginning of 1830, he found the third part difficult. The author himself said about the middle part of the concerto: it is like musing in a beautiful time of spring, but by the moon.
Warsaw. National Theater on Krasiński Square (20. Century) by UnknownThe Fryderyk Chopin Institute
It was a successful concert!
Listening to both concertos, it is hard to believe they were a work of a nineteen-year-old and a twenty-year-old! Before leaving Poland, Fryderyk managed to present them to the national audience at the Grand Theater.
He proudly reported to his friend: I was successful at yesterday's concert. The hall was full! Although, interestingly, Chopin rather avoided public appearances...
