Piano Concerto No. 3 (Prokofiev)

Of the five piano concertos written by Sergei Prokofiev, the Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, has garnered the greatest popularity and critical acclaim. The concerto radiates a crisp vitality that testifies to Prokofiev's inventive prowess in punctuating lyrical passages with witty dissonances, while maintaining a balanced partnership between the soloist and orchestra. Unlike the examples of piano concertos set by Prokofiev or most of his Romantic forebears, the orchestra rises above subsidiary accompaniment to play a very active part in this work. The concerto consists of three movements of roughly equal length which last just under 30 minutes in total.

Related Topics:
Piano concerto - Sergei Prokofiev - Concerto - Dissonance - Soloist - Orchestra - Romantic - Movements

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• Andante - Allegro
• Tema con variazioni
• Allegro, ma non troppo

Prokofiev began work on the concerto as early as 1913 when he wrote a theme for variations which he then set aside. Although he revisited the sketches in 1916-17, he did not fully devote himself to the project until 1921 when he was spending the summer in Brittany. Prokofiev himself played the solo part at the premiere in Chicago that year. The work did not gain immediate popularity and had to wait until 1922 to be confirmed in the 20th century canon, after Serge Koussevitzky conducted a lavishly praised performance in Paris.

Related Topics:
Theme for variations - 1921 - Brittany - Chicago - Serge Koussevitzky - Paris

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