- Tchaikovsky originally dedicated this concerto to Nikolai Rubinstein. However, on Russian Christmas Eve of 1874, Rubinstein criticized the concerto and Tchaikovsky was so insulted that the two had a falling-out and Tchaikovsky re-dedicated the concerto to Hans von Bülow.1
- Don’t worry, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein eventually resolved their beef. Just search Nikolai Rubinstein in this Research Site to see lots of Tchaikovsky premieres that Rubinstein conducted.
- Hans von Bülow was the soloist in the premiere of this concerto, which took place in Boston in 1875.2
- Von Bülow became a strong proponent of Tchaikovsky. He wrote supportive articles about Tchaikovsky’s works in 1874, and he conducted many Tchaikovsky works, including the Wiesbaden premiere of the First Piano Concerto in 1879.
- Tchaikovsky went on to write two more versions of this concerto over the course of his life.3
- The second version was written in 1876-9. This version premiered in St. Petersburg on November 29, 1884, in Moscow. Natalya Kalinovskaia-Chikhacheva was the piano soloist and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov conducted.
- The third version is the one heard most often today. Tchaikovsky wrote it between 1888-90. It premiered in Hamburg on January 20, 1888, with Tchaikovsky as conductor and Vasily Sapelnikov at the piano. This version was published around 1890.
Sources
- Roland John Wiley, “Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il’yich,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed May 14, 2021, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000051766.
- Ibid.
- “Piano Concerto No.1, Op.23 (Tchaikovsky, Pyotr),” IMSLP, accessed May 19, 2021, https://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No.1%2C_Op.23_(Tchaikovsky%2C_Pyotr).
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