Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K.466

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Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466, stands out for its intense emotional depth and dramatic qualities.
Written in 1785, this concerto is one of only two that the composer composed in a minor key, giving it a darker, more turbulent character compared to many of his other works.
The use of D minor brings an almost operatic intensity, a key often associated with sorrow and unrest.

The concerto opens with a bold and stormy orchestral introduction, which sets the stage for the piano's entry, a contrast of lyrical beauty and dynamic flair.

The central Romanze offers a serene, lyrical contrast, with a central virtuoso and spectacular part, before the final movement returns to the intensity of the opening.
Throughout, the music maintains an engaging dialogue between the orchestra and the piano, highlighting Mozart’s mastery in blending soloist and ensemble.

Despite its sombre tone, the work remains accessible and deeply engaging, inviting listeners into a world of emotional contrast, where darkness and light coexist in a masterful balance.

Anecdote

One famous anecdote about Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466, involves Ludwig van Beethoven.
Beethoven greatly admired this concerto and was said to have performed it in public.
In fact, it was the only Mozart concerto that Beethoven is known to have played.

He even composed his own cadenzas for it, as Mozart had not left any written cadenzas for the soloist.
This connection between two of the greatest composers in history adds a special significance to the concerto, linking the legacies of Mozart and Beethoven through this remarkable work.

Unique in our edition

The concerto will be available in two orchestral versions, to accommodate the musical preferences of each pianist:

• a classicist version with small string sections, on a Erard piano without use of the pedal (Mozart did not write any pedal instructions)
• a modern version with larger string sections, on a Steinway Grand piano, with some pedal use.