Playing the piano keeps other musicians at arm’s length – not because of the sound of course, but due to the sheer size of the instrument. We’ve put together some recommendations off the beaten track, from Bernhard Lang to Lisa Streich, Huang Ruo, Elizabeth Maconchy, Pascal Dusapin and Luca Francesconi, as well as all-time masterpieces by Sergej Prokofiev, Oliver Messiaen, Arthur Honegger, and Manuel de Falla. 

View the full list of piano concertos in our Database.

The keys to adventure

Dusapin, Pascal
Á Quia (2002)
pf - 2.2.2.2 — 1.2.1.1 — 2 perc — str
Duration: 26’

View the score on nkoda



Filidei, Francesco
Quasi una bagatella (2019)
for piano and orchestra
2.2.2.dbcl.2 – 4.3.3.1 – timp.4perc – hp. cel –12.12.10.8.8
Duration: 11’

Read the composer’s note here.

Fujikura, Dai
Akiko's Piano (2019)
Piano Concerto No. 4
solo pf – 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.0.0 – vib – str
Duration: 20'

Hersant, Philippe
Concerto pour piano (2009)
2.2.2.2 –  2.2.0.0 –  timp.perc – 10.8.6.5.3
Duration: 19'

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Lang, Bernhard
Monadologie XXXIV … Loops for Ludvik (2017)
for piano and orchestra
pf – 3.2.4.3 – 2.2.2.1 – 6perc.timp – hp – 12.12.8.6.4
Duration: 30'
view score

Find out more about the world premiere of Monadologie XXXIV … Loops for Ludvik.

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Manoury, Philippe 
Echo-Daimónon (2011 – 2012)
for piano, electronic in real time and orchestra
3.3.3.3  – 4.3.3.1  – 3 perc – clav.hp.cel – 16.14.12.10.8
Duration: 20'

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Riehm, Rolf
Wer sind diese Kinder (2009)
for piano, big orchestra in 3 groups and electronic tape
pf – 4.4.4.cbcl.4 – 4.6.4.1 – 4perc – key.acc – 14.12.10.8.6 – tape
Duration: 30'

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Streich, Lisa
LASTER (2019)
concerto for motorised piano and orchestra
solo motorised pf – 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.2.1 – 2perc – hp.pf – 8.6.4.4.3
Duration: 20'

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Ruo, Huang
Unscrolled (2015)
concerto for piano and orchestra
solo pf – 2.2.2.2 – 2.2.2.1 –2perc – str
Duration: 18'

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Double trouble

Febel, Reinhard
Slumberland (2018)
6 piano players on 2pianos, flute, clarinet, violoncello and conductor
fl.cl.perc. 2pno (6 players).vc
Duration: 35'

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Fitkin, Graham
Circuit (2002)
2pf – 3.3.3.2 – 4.3.3.1 –  timp – str
Duration: 20'

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Francesconi, Luca
Macchine in echo (2015)
2pf – 3.3.4.3 – 4.3.3.1 – timp.perc – hp.pf – str
Duration: 25’

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All-time favorites

De Falla, Manuel
Nuits dans les jardins d’Espagne (Noches en los jardines de España)
symponic impressions for piano and orchestra
3.3.2.2 — 4.2.3.1 — timp.perc — hp.cel — str
Duration: 25’

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Honegger, Arthur
Concertino (1924)
for piano and orchestra
pf - 2.2.2.2 - 2.2.1.0 - str
Duration: 12’

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Messiaen, Olivier
Réveil des oiseaux (1953)
for piano and orchestra
pf – 4.3.4.3 – 2.2.0.0 – 4perc – cel – str
Duration: 22’

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Prokofiev, Sergej
Piano concerto No. 1 (1910-1912)
pf – 3.2.2.3 – 4.2.3.1 – timp.perc – str
Duration: 16’

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Rota, Nino
Concerto soirée (1961-1962)
for piano and orchestra
2.2.2.2 – 2.2.1.0 – timp – str
Duration: 22'

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Smaller instrumentation (if you need to keep the distance)

Attahir, Benjamin
Al Fajr (2017)
pf –1.0.2.2 – 2.2.0.0 – timp – hp –3.0.2.2.1
Duration: 29’

Find out more about the piece in the interview with Benjamin Attahir.

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Castiglioni, Niccolo
Quodlibet (1976)
Piccolo concerto for piano and chamber orchestra
pf – 2.2.2.0 – 1.1.0.0 – 3perc – hp – str (4.3.2.1)
Duration: 12’

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Corghi, Azio
Filigrane bachiane (2009)
Concerto for piano and strings
pf – strings (minimum 5.5.4.2.1)
Duration: 18’

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Maconchy, Elizabeth
Concertino for piano and small orchestra (1928)
1.1.1.1 – 2.1.0.0 – str
Duration: 16’

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Milhaud, Darius
Fantaisie pastorale (1938)
pf – 1.1.1.1 – 1.1.1.1 – perc – hp – str
Duration: 10’

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Tansman, Alexandre
Concerto for piano No.1
2.2.2.2 – 4.3.3.1 – timb – 2perc – str
Duration: 19’