| Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| byLuciano Berio | |
| Composed | 1972/73 |
| Dedication | Janice and Norman Rosenthal |
| Performed | 15 March 1973 (1973-03-15) |
TheConcerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra was composed byLuciano Berio between 1972 and 1973 on a commission from theNew York Philharmonic. Its world premiere was given by the pianistsBruno Canino and Antonio Ballista and the New York Philharmonic conducted byPierre Boulez atPhilharmonic Hall, New York City, on 15 March 1973. The piece is dedicated to Janice and Norman Rosenthal. The concerto has a duration of roughly 25 minutes and is cast in a single continuousmovement.
The work is scored for two solopianos and a largeorchestra comprising twoflutes,piccolo, twooboes,Cor anglais, twoclarinets,piccolo clarinet,bass clarinet,alto saxophone,tenor saxophone, threebassoons,contrabassoon, threehorns, threetrumpets, threetrombones,tuba,electric organ, an additional piano,marimba, two percussionists, andstrings.
Reviewing the world premiere,Harold C. Schonberg ofThe New York Times was critical of the piece, writing, "Mr. Berio's Two‐Piano Concerto has to live or die as music, as something that communicates. On that basis it does not have much chance of survival." He added, "As the concerto continued, it became very dense, very complicated and very reminiscent ofStockhausen,Stravinsky and others. Mr. Berio really does not have much in the way of an original statement to offer."[1]