Busoni Concerto Opus XXXIX

[Gerhard Griesel]

When years ago I heard the Busoni PC (the Hamelin recording) for the first time it caught me. I have not yet listened to any other version, maybe because I am afraid of being disappointed. I can see Mark's point that one may not like it. It is so different from everything else. To me it is the most beautiful PC I have heard up till now. The piano comes across as a percussion instrument, which is very unusual for this genre but adds to the excitement. The choral ending, I agree with e.g. Gareth, is technically maybe not well handled, yet it just adds flavour. I was unaware of the meaning of the words, which Gareth elucidates for us. One is used to nonsensical texts in classical music, though - just think of Mahler's 8 and Grieg's Discovery of Land. I hope that I may also one day have an opportunity to attend a live performance like Steven.

I subsequently bought more Busoni music, but it was not the same as the PC.

[eschiss1]

earlier or later Busoni? His violin sonatas, violin concerto, and string quartets, e.g. (earlier), or his operas, elegies, late piano music, e.g. (later)? If the latter, yes, I see what you mean.

[Alan Howe]

The earlier stuff's not really like the PC either, though. Nothing like as original. But the VC ought to prove attractive enough...

[eschiss1]

there's a few recordings of it on YouTube to try, I'm sure. I quite like it myself...