Since the Baroque era the concerto has given instrumentalists an opportunity to step up to the footlights and show their best. The tableau of a violinist, cellist or pianist in full flight, as an orchestra plays behind them, is the iconic image that defines classical music for many.
Any instrument can be featured in a concerto; the Russian composer Reinhold Glière even wrote one for coloratura soprano. Of course it’s the concertos for string instruments (violin and cello) and piano that have dominated the repertoire and were showcases for legendary performers like Jascha Heifetz, Artur Rubinstein, Isaac Stern, Vladimir Horowitz, David Oistrakh, Pablo Casals, Yehudi Menuhin and others. A new generation of superstars like Lang Lang, James Ehnes, Yuja Wang and Hilary Hahn have continued the tradition.
But there are some dazzling concertos for tuba, bassoon, harp and other instruments that certainly deserve a listen. If you think the tuba isn’t agile enough to be a solo instrument, try the spectacular Norwegian virtuoso Oystein Baadsvik’s recording of the Vaughan Williams concerto. Think the bassoon was only intended for comic effect? Sample the gorgeous legato and rich tone of Jaakko Luama in the Weber Concerto in F.
Our Festival of Concertos features favorites as well as rarities. The recordings are critically acclaimed and three of them (the Rachmaninoff concertos albums and the complete Glazunov concertos) have been nominated for 2011 Grammy awards. The soloists making this great music includes Itzhak Perlman, Hélène Grimaud, Yo-Yo Ma, Leif Ove Andsnes, Lang Lang and others.
Whether you want a recording of a favorite concerto or are ready to explore some new works, check out our Festival of Concertos.
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by Craig Zeichner, Ariama Editor
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