Prokofiev composed for audiences who came to see as well as hear him play, showcasing his virtuosity with extreme hand-crossings and wide leaps across the keyboard.
Composition History
Prokofiev's Fourth Piano Concerto was written for the one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who had lost his right arm during the First World War.
Composition History
Prokofiev dedicated several works to Schmidthoff's memory, including his Second and Fourth Piano Sonatas, as well as the Second Concerto.
Composition History
Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto was almost certainly a memorial to his friend, the young pianist Maximilian Schmidthoff, who died by suicide.
Critical Reception
Paul Wittgenstein, the dedicatee of the Fourth Piano Concerto, never performed the work, writing to Prokofiev, "Thank you for the concerto, but I do not understand a single note and I shall not play it."
Historical Context
After the October Revolution, Prokofiev had to leave Russia, and the only full score of his Second Piano Concerto was reportedly used as fuel by people occupying his apartment.
Composer Biography
Prokofiev's introduction to music was through his mother, Maria, a keen amateur pianist, and his first compositions at age five were for the piano.
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Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5
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Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16 & Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
