Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Originally, Tchaikovsky intended to dedicate his work (1874–75) to Nikolai Rubinstein, but his pianist-composer-conductor friend was scathing in his criticism of the piece, thus the dedication is actually to the student and first husband of the daughter (Cosima) of Ferenc Liszt, Hans von Bülow, who debuted the work in Boston in 1875. The piano concerto took what the composer considered its final form in 1888. Romantic pathos and passion are dominant in the first movement, with the devilish scherzo middle section inserted into the emotional romance of the slow movement. A Ukrainian folk song inspired the finale’s main theme – the Allegro con fuoco demanding enormous instrumental skill from pianists culminates in a tempestuous coda.

The orchestra is headed by Henrik Nánási, one of the finest conductors today. As music director of the Komische Oper, Berlin, he has twice won the title ‘Opera House of the Year’ for the company.