Bohuslav Martinů - Piano Concerto No. 2, H. 237

Bohuslav Martinů (1890 - 1959) - Piano Concerto No. 2, H. 237 (1934) I. Allegro moderato [0:00] II. Poco andante [8:06] III. Poco allegro [14:27] Rudolf Firkušný, piano Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Libor Pešek (1993) Bohuslav Martinů's 2nd Piano Concerto is a work in three movements that typically lasts around 23 minutes. "The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2, H. 237, composed in 1934 during Martinů’s Parisian period, also had its première in Prague with the Czech Philharmonic, but with Firkušný as pianist and Václav Talich conducting, some nine years after the first concerto. In contrast to the first, which bubbles over itself with infectious fun-loving enthusiasm, this second concerto seems to take itself more seriously. This is not to say that it is heavy or morose, but there is an earnest quality that immediately engages the listener with Martinů’s own personal language. The Allegro moderato first movement (occasionally reminiscent of Prokofiev, Copland, Stravinsky, and even Brahms) is both dramatic and romantic, with those characteristics working together to make a convincing statement. The second movement, marked Poco andante, begins with sublime flowing music in the orchestra answered by a questioning recitative in the piano that develops into a dramatic cadenza. Much of the music here seems to be an unabashedly romantic homage to Brahms, including what amounts to a direct quotation of that master’s famous double concerto for violin and cello, with very satisfying results. The final movement, Poco allegro, is in three parts, with the outer parts typified by extended dialogues between the piano soloist playing increasingly complex broken chord passages and the orchestra exploring the characteristic three-note pattern that permeates so much of Martinů’s music. The middle section begins gently and gradually grows in intensity and excitement, finally blossoming into a soaring melody supported by lush harmonies. A final coda brings everything to a crashing dénouement." (source: Naxos)