most demanding work for violin/piano duo?
What is the technically most demanding work for violin/piano duo in your opinion?
Replies (10)
Carmen Fantasy by Waxman and Valse Scherzo op. 34 by Tchaikovsky were originally composed for violin and orchestra. If we are to include violin with piano transcriptions, then I would add Faust Fantasy op. 20 by Wieniawski to the list of most challenging violin/piano duos.
Yes, but I figured the Waxamn and Tchaikovsky are so often played with piano and the transcriptions are so well done that I thought they would be worth including. May I ask what this is for? Is it for a recital?
For violin/piano duo? Easy answer: Schubert Fantasy in C major.
Surprised that no one mentioned anything composed during the 20:th century?
The Chubert Fantasy was propably the hardest violin/piano piece when it was composed but it´s 2010 now. ;)
That's a good point from Andreas. There are some crazy modern works out there, but are just much lesser known.
There are for sure some interesting modern works out there that deserve more attention.
Heard a funny anecdote from a friend recently, he claimed that Argerich and Kremer wanted to record more modern works but Argerich couldn´t sightread them so they had a sticking point so to speak.
Argerich is able to sightread anything, I assure you!!! She is the greatest piano master ever, in cluding Mr. Horowitz,who had such a tiny repertoire...
A comment I assume entirely from personal experiences of mine, and I will not go further into details. Nelson Freire, a close friend of Argerich since childhood is also a giant of the piano and displays the same sills. And both have transmitted their experience and knowledge to Sergio Tiempo, another giant of the piano...Unfortunately, Lang Lang is the pop star, but miles under the level of playing of these 3 great artists... Today, superficiality and mimics are generously displayed in the concert field...
I know I can´t post links to clips here but I saw a clip where Argerich tried to sighread something together with Nelson and she seemed to have real problems.
When I think of someone who can sightread anything I think more of someone like Ian Pace, among violinists I would go for Irvine Arditti.
Elliot Carter Duo, Kirchner Sonate Concertante.
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November 8, 2010 at 12:37 AM ·
I Palpiti by Paganini I think would be most widely considered the hardest for violin. It is also the most deceptive. Some parts (the whole opening) are really easy and then there are some nearly impossible parts. There are very long passages of artificial harmonic double stops, so good luck!
There is also Carmen Fantasy by Waxman (seen in competitions very often) and the Valse Scherzo op. 34 by Tchaikovsky.