On medici.tv, come and discover the best performances of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2

Chopin composed the Piano Concerto No. 2 at a young age, when he was just over 20 years old. In reality, this should be considered his first piano concerto, but it was classified  later as it was published after what is now known as Piano Concerto No. 1. Despite the composer's young age, there is nothing naive about this composition; on the contrary, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 contains some of the most lyrical passages in the composer’s repertoire with a brilliant and virtuosic flair. In fact, it encompasses the desire to showcase his compositional mastery, as well as his tender feelings of love for his fellow student, the soprano Konstancja Gladkowska. As a result, the solo performer of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 must possess a deep artistic sensibility, capable of combining virtuosity with sensitivity. medici.tv, the finest platform for streaming classical music, offers a selection of the best interpretations of this work on this page, featuring performances by renowned artists such as Daniil Trifonov, Nikolai Demidenko, Arthur Rubinstein, Evgeny Kissin, Emanuel Ax, Christian Zacharias, and Garrick Ohlsson.

medici.tv offers you a front-row seat to the finest interpretations of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2!

Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 is often compared to its predecessor, Piano Concerto No. 1. Perhaps in Chopin's intentions, the two works were already connected as he had actually composed No. 2 earlier, but published it second, thus deeply intertwining the two compositions. Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and No. 1 are often performed together: a good example of this is Garrick Ohlsson’s performance with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Antoni Wit, in a concert dedicated to Chopin's youth and the works composed before the exile that took him away from Poland. The two works are closely associated with the Konzerthaus Dortmund due to three illustrious performances there: when Daniil Trifonov performed the reorchestrated versions of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and No. 1 by Mikhail Pletnev, and when Nikolai Demidenko and Evgeny Kissinthey respectively performed these versions in the concert honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Polish composer. However, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 also finds its place in other musical contexts associated with the most beautiful Romantic Piano Masterpieces. Consider Kissin’s 2019 recital at the Verbier Festival, or, in a similar context but three years later, Trifonov’s interpretation of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 along with his Études. Don’t forget about the Europakonzert 1999 under the direction of Emanuel Ax, or Christian Zacharias’ performance accompanied by the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Be sure not to  miss the incredible documentary Conversation with Arthur Rubinstein, part of the TV series Omnibus, in which the legendary pianist—nicknamed “King Arthur”—discusses his relationship with the great Polish composer and performs Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, accompanied by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of the great Zubin Mehta! What are you waiting for? On medici.tv, the finest platform for classical music, you will be able to explore a wide range of interpretations of every masterpiece—including Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2—allowing you to travel through time and space to indulge in the very best of classical music. You will have the opportunity to learn, observe, compare, and form your own personal opinion...and above all, to listen to a vibrant range of masterpieces! Join us in Warsaw—or perhaps at the Verbier Festival, or even in Krakow or Germany—to celebrate the great Polish composer Chopin! Join us on medici.tv to secure a front-row seat in the best music hall in the world and enjoy the most sublime performances of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2! Excellence is just one click away!

Explore the history of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 through its greatest performers: only on medici.tv!

"Perhaps to my misfortune, I have met my ideal and have served her faithfully for six months, without revealing my feelings to her. I dream about it: under her inspiration, the Adagio of my Concerto in F minor and, this morning, the little waltz that I’m sending you – the Waltz in B minor, Op. 69 No. 2, have been born... I tell the piano what I confide in you," wrote the young Frédéric Chopin in a letter to a friend and confidant, thus talking about Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 for the first time. The ideal love he speaks of was for Konstancja Gladkowska, a young soprano with whom Chopin studied at the conservatoire in Warsaw. However, the relationship remained platonic and caused great longing in the sensitive and timid admirer’s heart… Sublimating his passion, the young composer’s stormy emotions of love translated into the pages of this splendid concerto—Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2—and the passion gradually faded, making way for the notes of one of the most beautiful concerts in classical music. And if the composer himself attests to the influence of his feelings for the young lady in the second movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, his aura permeates every movement: starting with the Maestoso, which provides a refined orchestral introduction to the main theme without letting the orchestra steal the spotlight or assume the main voice. On the contrary, just as Chopin loved Konstancja from afar, the orchestra supports the piano without ever overshadowing it, but offering appropriate and passionate support. Melodic creativity thus emerges in Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 from the soloist's voice, launching into virtuosic embellishments and ornaments, before the orchestra returns to the stage with a gradual climax. In turn, the Larghetto is an exquisite musical poem, where the extremes of emotion alternate and chase each other, oscillating between drama and lyricism. The concluding Allegro culminates with a spectacular display of virtuosity in the Coda, showcasing Chopin's brilliant piano writing. Thus, Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 blends—in the form of a conventional concerto—the fusion of the "brilliant style", popularized by the most skilled pianists of the early nineteenth century, with the romantic yearnings of the young composer. If you wish to delve deeper into the history of classical music, with all its anecdotes and curiosities, medici.tv is the perfect destination for you! Join us on the best platform for streaming classical music and become part of one of the most passionate communities of music lovers worldwide!