Left Alone for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra was composed by Hans Abrahamsen in 2014-15. Commissioned by Westdeutscher Rundfunk and co-commissioned by City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Premiered by the WDR Sinfonieorchester and Alexandre Tharaud (piano) concducted by Ilan Volkov on January 29 2016 Cologne. Programme Note: I was born with a right hand that is not fully functional and though it never prevented me from loving playing the piano as well as I could with this physical limitation it hasobviously given me an alternative focus on the whole piano literature and has given me a close relationship with the works written for the left hand by Ravel and others. This repertoire has been with me since my youth. My very first public performance of one of my own works was in autumn 1969. The piece was called October and I played the piano with my left hand and the horn my principal instrument (the only instrument that can be played with only the left hand). Part of the piece requires the performer to play natural harmonics of the horn directly into the open strings of the grand piano to create resonance. The pedal was kept down by an assistant lying on the floor. Through decades the idea of writing a larger work for piano left hand has been in my mind. This new work is not written for a pianist with only one hand but rather by a composer who can only play with the left hand. The title Left alone contains all kinds of references not only to the obvious fact that the left hand is playing alone. Left alone is divided into two large parts each consisting of three smaller movements – in effect six in total. The work was commissioned by Westdeutscher Rundfunk and co-commissioned by City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Rotterdam Philharmonic and written for Alexandre Tharaud. Hans

Piano Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra (2009) by Poul Ruders.Commissioned by The Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Jerome Lowenthal. Solo Piano part: WH31129CProgramme Note In this day and age when faced with the challenge of writing a 'Piano Concerto' e.g. a piece for symphony orchestra and an all-dominating and virtuosic solo Piano part one has two options: either: DO or do NOT go for it wholesale exploiting and enjoying the conrnucopia of sonorous treasures offered by the combination of the orchestra and the 'Grand Piano'. I have opted to go for it. When writing forone of our great young international Piano stars it would be absurd and a waste to do anything less and only 'nibble at the goodies'.However the piece is not a big clunky 'machine'. Rather it is a transparently orchestrated neo-classic (for the lack of a better work) composition in three movements lastign approximately 25 minutes.The piece begins with a moderately paced opening in which the Piano gradually gathers momentum and strength beginning with the most gentle of motifs. In this movement the soloist and orchestra fo not always agree and the vigilant listener will observe the disparity between the two. Following a swift up-beat coda the movement stops almost in mid-breath on one of the gentle Piano chords taken from the very opening.The extreme simplicity of the second movement 'Semplice' (the opening Piano solo bears the marking: 'slightly hesitant - like a child practicing') is after having been joined by the Vibraphone Harp and solo Violin suddenly violated with unprecedented brutality by the rest of the orchestra which virtually 'lies in wait - panting to pounce'. But eventually calm and order is restored.The finale is a crazy rondo of sorts. The marking 'Avanti Risoluto' (Forward with Resolve) is a bit of an understatement. It is a full throttle no hold barred ride -

KV 467-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's concertos for Piano and Orchestra reveal the then young form in classical perfection. Among the most beautiful of them which are quite equals of his great symphonies are the works which he composed in a two year period (1784- 1786) which marks the highest peak in Mozart's instrumental writing and in his career as a virtuoso.- Urtext of the New Mozart Edition- Full score & parts (BA5317) two-Piano reduction (BA5317-90) and study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm (TP148) available for sale.

KV 467-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's concertos for Piano and Orchestra reveal the then young form in classical perfection. Among the most beautiful of them which are quite equals of his great symphonies are the works which he composed in a two year period (1784- 1786) which marks the highest peak in Mozart's instrumental writing and in his career as a virtuoso.- Urtext of the New Mozart Edition- Full score & parts (BA5317) two-Piano reduction (BA5317-90) and study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm (TP148) available for sale.

KV 467-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's concertos for Piano and Orchestra reveal the then young form in classical perfection. Among the most beautiful of them which are quite equals of his great symphonies are the works which he composed in a two year period (1784- 1786) which marks the highest peak in Mozart's instrumental writing and in his career as a virtuoso.- Urtext of the New Mozart Edition- Full score & parts (BA5317) two-Piano reduction (BA5317-90) and study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm (TP148) available for sale.