Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor, Op. 23 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor, Op. 23 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

This concerto was finished in 1875 while Tchaikovsky was working in Moscow. The first performance of the concerto was in October of 1875 in Boston. During this time, Tchaikovsky was self-funded from his compositions and performances. Due to the success of this composition and others, he would soon be funded by Nadezhda von Meck, the widow of railway magnate Karl Otto Georg von Meck. Despite never actually meeting, Tchaikovsky would describe Nadezhda as his ‘best friend’.

The work is comprised of three movements:
I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito (B♭ minor – B♭ major)
II. Andantino semplice – Prestissimo – Tempo I (D♭ major)
III. Allegro con fuoco – Molto meno mosso – Allegro vivo (B♭ minor – B♭ major)

Other notable events in 1875 include the passing of the American Civil Rights Act, the Ottoman Empire falling into bankruptcy, the founding of Tanaka Manufacturing (now called Toshiba) and the first indoor game of ice hockey, played in Quebec.