Musical Pick-Me-Up 4
Show Stoppers

We've already encountered the piano and violin as evocative instruments, singing with the orchestra. When played slowly they produce deeply meditative moods.

Another side of these instruments well-known and loved by audiences is as the flashy show-off. It is in the realm of pyrotechnics that these instruments really star - the piano glitters and dazzles - the violin soars and sizzles - audiences go wild.

Composers saved the last movements of their piano and violin concertos for just such occasions. Here are ten of them...

1. Bartók – Piano Concerto No. 3 – 3. Allegro vivace
2. Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, op.73 “Emperor” – 3. Allegro
3. Liszt – Piano Concerto no. 1 in E flat minor – 4. Allegro marziale animato
4. Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto no. 3 in d minor, op.30 – 3. Finale: Alla breve
5. Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor, op.23 – 3. Finale: Alla breve

The Violin

1. Beethoven – Violin Concerto in D major, op.61 – 3. Rondo
2. Brahms – Violin Concerto in D major, op.77 – 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
3. Dvořák – Violin Concerto in a minor, op.53 – 3. Finale (Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo)
4. Mendelssohn – Violin Concerto in e minor, op.64 – 3. Allegro
5. Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35 – 3. Allegro