2017-10-04

The countdown has begun to the first performance of Marta Ptaszyńska’s ‘Piano Concerto’, to be given on 27 October in Kalisz. The Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by Natalia Ponomarchuk, with Clare Hammond as soloist.

No doubt you’ll be interested in the composer’s description of this work?

I completed the Concerto at the start of July 2017.

Before beginning work on the Concerto, I spent a long time considering its form and structure. Ultimately, I decided to write a work that would oscillate between the eminently dazzling, virtuosic piano concertos of Prokofiev and the opulent tonal colours of the piano music of Messiaen. The Concerto is also written in such a way that it can be performed not only by outstanding piano virtuosos, but also by a whole legion of pianists, beginning at middle and higher music school levels.

The work has the ‘classic’ three movements:

1. Allegretto affetuoso

2. Lento mistico misterioso

3. Moderato sostenuto – Presto appassionato

The virtuosic, motoric first movement refers most to musical gestures from Prokofiev’s concertos. The second movement is a display of shimmering timbres and dazzling tonal colours, in both the solo part and in the orchestra. The third movement is a virtuosic dialogue between piano and orchestra, leading to a fiery Coda.

Marta Ptaszyńska

More on the concert.

© PWM / rys. Daniel de Latour