my top 5 favorite piano concerto cadenzas

NOTE: NONE OF THIS MUSIC OR PERFORMANCES ARE MINE I JUST LIKE THEM

0:05 Prokofiev Piano Concerto 1 in Db Major Mvmt. 3
1:29 Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor Mvmt. 1
4:36 Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 1 in F# Minor Mvmt. 1
7:26 Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3 in D Minor Mvmt. 1 (Ossia cadanza)
10:20 Prokofiev Piano Concerto in G Minor Mvmt. 1

[geronimodaloia]

What I love the most about Rach's 3 cadenza is how the orchesta comes back. Instead of being an energical and powerful return, he finishes the climax with the piano, and then we get to hear soft winds playing, which creates an eerie feeling.

[busoni]

You gained instant street cred for me by having Prokofiev 2 at #1. However, I would lobby for the final cadenza of the Ravel Left Hand Concerto to be considered, which sounds like 2 to 3 hands at time, and just keeps building to the final finish with the orchestra. Unreal.

[Charlie-gqvu]

First time I ever heard Prokofiev's 2nd concerto was at a live performance. Mind-blowing intensity at the end of the cadenza and goosebumps for years

[darioramonetti]

The last one just blew my mind. Didnt know prokofiev had such intense pieces.

[dolalafontaine]

Damn. I’ve always been a huge Rach fan and have played a bunch of preludes and excerpts from concertos to pretend I could play them all lol… but now I’m thinking of giving Prokofiev a little more love

[Tis_Not_Ivo]

The cadenza of Prokofiev’s second piano concerto is also my favourite! Thanks for making this.

[santiagocaldeira]

I love rach 1's power, and even the build up to the climax is just gorgeous

[skrutten_]

Happy to see my two favorite cadenzas of all time at the top two spots; Prokofiev 2 and Rach 3 Ossia are amazing. Great choices here!

[beez]

I would also recommend listening to candenza of Ravel's left hand concerto, Tchaikovsky 2 concerto, Beethoven 3, Khachaturian

[LAK_]

I’m a huge fan of the cadenza from Alkan’s concerto for solo piano. One of the most savagely difficult passages ever written for any instrument, but so beautifully musical and well-constructed. By the time the “orchestra” tutti re-enters, it’s been this incredible journey and the main theme’s last heroic statement is almost unbearably epic. I highly recommend anyone reading check it out - Hamelin is the most famous interpretation but I’m partial to Vincenzo Maltempo.

[usurpationofmusic]

rach 1 has such a long and beautifully expressive. the build up to the single c# in 3 octaves before the maestoso, and the whole maestoso itself is just breathtaking

[michaelschefold]

My favorite cadenzas are Prokofieff2 and Ravel's left hand concerto. Both played by Yuja Wang.

[djsuia]

my favs are
5) Beethoven's cadenza for mozart k466
4) prok 2
3) Beethoven 3
2) rach ossia
1) Tchaikovsky 2

[NickCarlozzi]

Agreed! That orchestral return at the end of the prok2 cadenza is so epic! Hair-raising stuff.

[joshuaslater]

i’m subscribing just from the fact that you included prokofiev 1

[andresantos_]

I love the chopin 1st concerto candeza from first movement, so romantic

[MattSmith-iltc]

My favorite cadenza is probably the cadenza from the first movement of Beethoven's 4th concerto (the first version). I have always loved the way that cadenza sets up the ending of the movement.

[introvertmeri]

i love grieg's work so much it's so beautiful

[snailmusk]

Rachmaninoff is the undisputed heavyweight cadenza champion. 😎

Prokofiev is a close second.

[slowloris]

1) and 2) are the GOAT's. Ravel's left-hand, Tchaikovsky 2, Beethoven 4 and Busoni's could be on the list but the first 2 are in a different league. Funnily enough, the cadenza from the 4th movement of Prok 2 could easily slot into 3rd position.