Ferdinand Hiller - Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 69 (1843)

Ferdinand (von) Hiller (24 October 1811 – 11 May 1885) was a German composer, conductor, pianist, writer and music a student of Johann N. Hummel and was together with him at the deathbed of Beethoven. Was friends with all the famous composers and musicians of the time, like Mendelssohn, Schubert and he even got along with Wagner who tried to borrow 2,000 thaler from him. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F# minor, Op. 69 (1843) 1. Moderato, ma con energia e con fuoco 2. Andante espressivo (6:56) 3. Allegro con fuoco (12:50) Michael Ponti and Radio Luxemburg Orchestra conducted by Louis de Froment The Piano Concerto No 2 in F sharp minor Op 69 is considered to be Hiller’s most successful contribution to the genre. The work, which is dedicated to Wilhelmin Szarvady, was composed around the time Hiller moved from Frankfurt to Leipzig in the autumn of 1843. Despite the lack of rehearsal time, the premiere in the Gewandhaus on 26 October 1843 was a success. In this concerto Hiller clearly moved away from the Parisian virtuoso style: compared to his earlier concerto Op 5 this work finds a different solution to the ‘concerto problem’. All three movements are, in their form and development, conceived in a much more multi-layered manner, with piano and orchestra dovetailing more frequently.