Well, thanks to the WDR Radio Recorder I have just finished recording and downloading the Urspruch PC.
The first movement has much the same quality as the composer's Symphony, also in E flat, i.e. a fairly leisurely pace and a rich orchestral palate. The piano-writing is attractive and demanding, but the feeling is of a concerto of symphonic scope along the lines of Beethoven's Emperor or Brahms, rather than of a virtuoso display-piece. There is certainly some really beautiful writing for woodwinds and some exciting tutti passages: very impressive - and memorable too. This movement is approx. 22 minutes long - an expansive opening indeed.
The second movement starts in a quite different mood - one of sadness and melancholy, rather than the expansive good humour of the opening movement. There is a most beautiful rise and fall to the melodies here - long lines and deep feeling. Eventually, a more hope-filled melody emerges, developed by both orchestra and piano: this is music of exceptional breadth and beauty - and drama too as the main, now tragic-sounding theme is thundered out by the full orchestra, thus ending the movement on a note of heightened sadness.
The finale begins in high spirits; then a more peaceful, typically long-breadthed melody is introduced, before we are back to more vigorous music, this time in less certain mood. Then we are back to a development of the opening high jinks, gloriously reiterated in tutti before the piano takes up the writing. There is tremendous variety in the writing here. Then a fugato...the tension finally builds, the writing becoming broader, then calmer, more akin to the mood of the first movement. The pace picks up, but breadth remains the predominant mood until a build-up of tension, a brief solo piano interlude preceding the final rush for the line, punctuated by horns - a humorous scurry and the work ends in glory.
This is a PC nearly 42 minutes in length. Too long? Maybe. But the delights are many. And, if cpo are to issue it coupled with the composer's Symphony (which lasts 50 minutes), it's going to have to be a 2-CD set!
