Concerto for Two Pianos, FP 61

1932 · FP 61 · Two pianos and orchestra

Commissioned by the Princesse de Polignac and first performed in Venice by Poulenc and Jacques Février. The first movement draws on the Balinese gamelan; the slow movement opens with a reference to Mozart.

7 min

Recording

II. LarghettoArthur Whittemore and Jack Lowe; RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra; Dimitri Mitropoulos · 1947, New York
6:45
This is the Larghetto, the second movement of Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos in D minor, FP 61, which opens with a solo piano melody in the manner of Mozart. Arthur Whittemore and Jack Lowe were the soloists with Dimitri Mitropoulos in a 1947 recording.
Listening notes
1. Opening, first piano alone
  The first piano plays alone in B♭ major, a melody over a rocking accompaniment. Poulenc deliberately borrowed Mozart’s manner. The second piano then plays a melody of its own, and after it the orchestra enters.
2. First performance, Venice, 1932
  The Princesse de Polignac commissioned the concerto in 1932. At its first performance in Venice that September, Poulenc and Jacques Février played the two pianos, and Désiré Defauw conducted the orchestra of La Scala.
3. Middle section, Plus allant
  Poulenc marked the middle section Plus allant (more flowing). Both pianos play short chords beneath a rising tune. Strings and wind join the exchanges, and the orchestral writing grows louder until it reaches a full climax.
4. Return of the opening theme
  At Tempo I the opening theme returns in the first piano over pizzicato strings. The second piano adds a winding line, and the wind hold soft chords around the two soloists.
5. Final bars, both pianos
  At the end the first piano holds a chord while the second plays a short rising run. Poulenc marks the run clair et p (clear and quiet). A short chord ends the movement.
Open in the Concert Hall

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