Ernst Krenek: Complete Piano Concertos Vol. 2 – Mikhail Korzhev

   in Piano International (Nov, 2017)
A year after the tremendous success of the first volume of Krenek’s Piano Concertos (Nos 1 to 3; TOCC0323), which I reviewed last year, the concluding volume has now appeared with the same performers (and three additional soloists), featuring the Fourth and final Concerto of 1950, plus three double concertos partnering the piano with, respectively, an organ (1940), violin (1950) and a second piano (1951).

Krenek’s Fourth Concerto is the most traditional in format of all the concertos, the only one in the standard three movements – two short, vigorous Allegros enclosing a profound Molto adagioof considerable intensity. This slow movement is the heart of the work, taking almost half its …