Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
One of the most celebrated and technically demanding piano concertos in the repertoire, Tchaikovsky's First was composed in 1874–75 and dedicated to Hans von Bülow after Nikolai Rubinstein famously rejected it as 'unplayable'. Von Bülow premiered it triumphantly in Boston in 1875, and the work quickly became a cornerstone of the virtuoso concert repertoire. Its opening movement begins with one of the most famous statements in all music — a broad, hymn-like theme in the full orchestra answered by massive chords in the piano — before giving way to an energetic Allegro. The lyrical Andantino semplice and rambunctious Finale complete a work of sweep, passion, and bravura that has defined the Romantic concerto tradition. Tchaikovsky revised the work twice; the third version (1879–89) is now standard.
Editions
Jurgenson (Kalmus reprint)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, 1879
Reprint of Tchaikovsky's own revised edition; the text closest to his final intentions and the basis for most twentieth-century performances.
Eulenburg
Richard Clarke, 2002
Pocket score with critical preface and performance notes; the standard miniature score for students and score-readers.
G. Henle
Pavel Lampl, 2019
Urtext critical edition based on all autograph and print sources; the most authoritative modern performing text with full critical commentary.