Chopin’s piano concertos transform the composer’s solo keyboard brilliance into grand concert hall performances, in which the orchestral portions offer bold contrasts to the delicate piano parts. The composer first performed the Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, publicly in 1830, at his last Warsaw concert. Chopin described the slow movement as being “like dreaming in beautiful springtime, by moonlight.” The Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, also debuted in Warsaw. Its dramatic first theme is followed by a romantic second movement, and it concludes with a lively final movement reminiscent of a mazurka. These concertos represent two of the most beloved pieces in the repertoire. Reproduced from authoritative editions, they appear here in a convenient single volume. This sturdy but inexpensive edition lies flat on music stands and will provide years of use and enjoyment.
