Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)

Lore & Background

Rubinstein harshly criticized the piece, calling it worthless and unplayable; Tchaikovsky refused to alter a single note. Rubinstein later withdrew his criticism and became a fervent champion of the work. Tchaikovsky then approached German pianist Hans von Bülow, who premiered the concerto on October 25, 1875, in Boston, conducted by Benjamin Johnson Lang. The premiere was a success with the audience, though critics were less impressed.

Reader's Guide

The Piano Concerto No. 1 is significant as one of Tchaikovsky's most enduring works, widely performed and recorded. Its creation involved a famous dispute with Nikolai Rubinstein, who initially condemned it but later championed it. The concerto's first performance in Boston, far from Moscow, reflected Tchaikovsky's shaken confidence after Rubinstein's criticism. Its popularity endures, and it remains a staple of the piano concerto repertoire.

Did You Know?

• The concerto was first performed in Boston on October 25, 1875, by Hans von Bülow, after Nikolai Rubinstein criticized the piece.
• There is confusion about the original dedication: Rubinstein's name is crossed off the autograph score, but biographer David Brown writes it was never dedicated to him.