Busoni’s Piano Concerto

The only conventional element of Ferruccio Busoni’s Piano Concerto is its title.  At nearly 75 minutes in length, Ferruccio Busoni’s Piano Concerto is one of the longest concertos ever written. Its five movements, the last featuring a men’s chorus,  are designed to be played without a break, giving very little respite for soloist and orchestra. It requires nothing less than a herculean effort by the soloist not to mention the more than 100 other musicians performing. Pianist Igor Levit, a noted Busoni specialist, and Esa-Pekka Salonen along with the Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale scale Busoni’s masterpiece.