Ballad for Edvard Grieg

Featuring

Mariss Jansons
Leif Ove Andsnes
Berliner Philharmoniker
Edvard Grieg

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Composition History

Grieg composed his only Piano Concerto at age 25, inspired by his recent marriage to Nina Hagerup and the birth of their daughter Alexandra.

Compositional Technique

Grieg's Ballade in G minor, Op. 24, is unusual for a theme and variations piece because it opens with a 'beautifully harmonised melody' rather than a simple theme, creating a series of 'interrelated mood pictures' reflecting his state of mind.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Edvard Grieg, the composer, dedicated himself to establishing a national identity for classical music in Norway, drawing inspiration from his country's traditions, legends, history, and natural scenery.

Compositional Technique

Grieg's 66 Lyric Pieces, composed between 1867 and 1901, demonstrate his ability to create a compelling atmosphere in just a few bars, similar to Mendelssohn's Songs without Words or Bartók's Mikrokosmos.

Critical Reception

Franz Liszt, the world-famous pianist, enthusiastically described Grieg's Piano Concerto as 'intoxicating liqueur' after playing it at sight.

Composer Biography

Seven years after composing the Concerto, Grieg experienced a period of turmoil, losing both parents and suffering from depression, which affected his creative confidence and relationship with his wife, Nina.

Critical Reception

Despite Liszt's praise, the German premiere of Grieg's Piano Concerto in Leipzig in 1872 was a 'rather lukewarm affair,' and European publishers were initially hesitant to print it.