Skalkottas' music was largely unknown and unperformed until the 1960s, when a Skalkottas Society began promoting his work, leading him to be recognized as a pioneer of Greek modern music.
Composition History
The Piano Concerto No. 3, composed in 1939, had its premiere in 1969, but due to its extreme demands, it was performed by three different pianists, each taking one movement.
Critical Reception
Nikos Skalkottas remained largely unknown during his lifetime, with his death in 1949 going unnoticed by the music world, which was preoccupied with the passing of Richard Strauss.
Composer Biography
Skalkottas studied composition with Arnold Schönberg, a highly influential Austrian-American composer, from 1927 to 1931.
Performer Biography
Daan Vandewalle, the pianist on this recording, is known for performing hundreds of pieces of 20th and 21st-century piano music, including complete works by Ives, Messiaen, and Schönberg.
Composer Biography
Nikos Skalkottas, the composer, initially studied violin and was a brilliant student, but decided at age 19 to become a composer instead.
Compositional Technique
Unlike his first two piano concertos which featured a large symphony orchestra, Skalkottas's Piano Concerto No. 3 uses a unique accompaniment of ten wind instruments and percussion.
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