The Most Beautiful Concerto, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the concerto you think is the most beautiful!

Updated on Apr 23, 2024 06:22

In the world of classical music, the concerto stands out as a brilliant showcase of artistic collaboration between a soloist and an orchestra. Each piece offers a unique narrative, evoking a spectrum of emotions and thoughts. Having a list of top concertos helps listeners find recommendations that might resonate with their own experiences and preferences, guiding them through an enriching musical journey. By participating in voting for your favorite concertos, you contribute to a dynamic community-driven ranking. This not only reflects current popular tastes but also introduces variability and fresh perspectives into what might be considered the best. Your vote helps to shape this collective musical exploration, making each ranking refresh an exciting revelation of what moves listeners the most.

What Is the Most Beautiful Concerto?

1

54
votes
Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major - widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and virtuosic concertos ever written, with its soaring melodies and lyrical passages.
Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major is a renowned and majestic musical composition for solo violin and orchestra. It is considered one of the most beautiful violin concertos ever written. Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, a prominent German composer from the classical era, the concerto showcases his genius and mastery of writing for both the violin and the orchestra.

Key: D major

Form: Three-movement concerto

First Performance: 1806

Duration: Approximately 45 minutes

Instrumentation: Solo violin and orchestra
2

18
votes

Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor

Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor is a masterpiece of Romantic music, known for its grandeur and emotional power.
3

19
votes
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor is a lush, melodic work that showcases the piano's expressive range.
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor is a renowned and captivating musical composition that is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful concertos ever created. It was composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor, in 1900. The concerto, featuring a solo piano accompanied by a full orchestra, is comprised of three incredibly melodic and emotionally rich movements.

Key: C minor

Instrumentation: Piano and orchestra

Number of movements: 3

Duration: approx. 40-45 minutes

Premiere: 9 November 1901 (Moscow, Russia)
4

14
votes
Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major is a refined and elegant work, known for its beautiful slow movement.
Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major is a captivating and enchanting musical composition that showcases the brilliance of Mozart's talent. The concerto was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and is widely regarded as one of his most beautiful and well-known works. It is often referred to as the 'Elvira Madigan' concerto, named after its use in the 1967 Swedish film of the same name. The concerto features a solo piano accompanied by a full orchestra, creating a harmonious interplay between the soloist and the ensemble. The overall mood of the piece is lively and joyful, with moments of melancholy and introspection. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 is a masterful example of classical music and continues to captivate audiences with its timeless beauty.

Key: C major

Composition Year: 1785

Movements: 3

Duration: About 30 minutes

Instrumentation: Solo piano, orchestra
5

9
votes
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor

Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor is a lyrical and passionate work that is a favorite of many violinists.
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor is a renowned masterpiece of the Romantic era. It was composed by Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer and pianist. This concerto is considered one of the most beautiful and influential works within the violin repertoire.

Key: E minor

Genre: Concerto

Composition Year: 1844

Movements: 3

Instrumentation: Violin solo, orchestra
6

17
votes
Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major

Dmitri Shostakovich

Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major is a witty and energetic work that combines classical and jazz influences.
Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major is a captivating and dynamic composition that showcases the unique talent of Dmitri Shostakovich, a renowned Russian composer. This concerto is renowned for its brilliant melodies, intricate harmonies, and emotional depth.

Key: F major

Number of Movements: Three

Duration: Approximately 20 minutes

Premiere Date: March 10, 1957

Orchestration: Piano solo, strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion
7

10
votes

Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor

Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor is a popular and accessible work that is known for its memorable melodies and fiery virtuosity.
8

7
votes
Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major

Johannes Brahms

Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major is a majestic and intense work that is considered one of the most challenging in the violin repertoire.
Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major is a magnificent and widely regarded masterpiece of the Romantic era. Composed by Johannes Brahms, a renowned German composer and pianist, the concerto showcases his deep understanding of both the violin and orchestral music. It is considered one of the most beautiful and demanding violin concertos ever written.

Key: D major

Composed in: 1878

Genre: Concerto

Movements: 3

Duration: around 40 minutes
9

6
votes
Barber's Violin Concerto Op. 14

Samuel Barber

Barber's Violin Concerto Op. 14 is a hauntingly beautiful work that showcases the violin's expressive power.
Barber's Violin Concerto Op. 14 is a renowned piece of classical music composed for violin and orchestra. It is known for its striking beauty, emotional depth, and technical challenges. The concerto was created by Samuel Barber, an American composer, in 1939. Inspired by the Romantic tradition, Barber crafted a captivating work that showcases the virtuosity and expressiveness of the violin. The concerto consists of three movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes.

Composition Year: 1939

Instrumentation: Violin and Orchestra

Number of Movements: 3

Duration: Approximately 25 minutes

Style: Romantic
Barber's Violin Concerto Op. 14 in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most beautiful Violin Concerto
10

6
votes
Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor

Antonin Dvorak

Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor is a lyrical and emotional work that is widely regarded as one of the greatest cello concertos ever written.
Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor is a magnificent concerto for the cello, considered one of the most beautiful and beloved pieces in the cello repertoire. It was composed by Antonin Dvorak, a prominent Czech composer of the Romantic era. The concerto showcases the expressive and lyrical qualities of the cello, providing a rich and captivating musical experience.

Key: B minor

Genre: Concerto

Composed in: 1894–1895

Movements: 4

Duration: Approximately 40 minutes

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Ranking factors for beautiful concerto

Melodic beauty

A beautiful concerto should have an appealing and memorable melody that resonates with listeners and remains in their minds long after the performance has ended.
Emotional depth

The emotions conveyed through the concerto should be powerful and thought-provoking, allowing listeners to connect with the piece at an emotional level.
Technical complexity

A well-crafted concerto should require a high level of technical skill for a musician to perform, demonstrating their virtuosity and mastery of their instrument.
Expressiveness and dynamics

The concerto should offer a range of contrasting themes, tempos, and dynamics, allowing the performer to showcase a wide range of expressive capabilities.
Structure and form

The concerto should have a clear and coherent structure, with each movement serving a purpose and contributing to the overall arc of the piece.
Orchestration and instrumentation

The arrangement of instruments and the various textures and colors achieved through them should contribute to the overall beauty of the concerto.
Balance between soloist and orchestra

A beautiful concerto should have an excellent balance between the soloist and the accompanying orchestra, ensuring that they both support and complement each other without one overpowering the other.
Historical context and influence

A concerto that has had a profound influence on the development of the genre or has remained popular throughout history is more likely to be considered beautiful or significant.
Innovation and originality

A beautiful concerto should challenge conventions and bring a fresh perspective or interpretation to the genre.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most beautiful concerto. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Concerto is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1161 views
159 votes
10 ranked items

Movers & Shakers

Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major
Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor
Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major
Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Concerto once every 24 hours. The rank of each Concerto is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most beautiful concerto

A concerto is a musical composition that features a solo instrument or group of instruments accompanied by an orchestra. The term "concerto" comes from the Italian word "concertare," which means to agree or to bring together. The concerto has been a popular form of classical music for centuries, with many composers creating some of their most famous works in this genre. One of the defining features of a concerto is the interplay between the soloist or soloists and the orchestra. The soloist often plays a virtuosic role, showcasing their technical prowess and musical expressiveness. Meanwhile, the orchestra provides a rich and varied backdrop, creating a lush and dynamic sound that complements the soloist's performance. Over the years, many concertos have been written for a wide range of instruments, including the piano, violin, cello, and trumpet. Each instrument brings its own unique sound and character to the concerto, resulting in a diverse and rich body of works. So, what is the most beautiful concerto? That's a difficult question to answer, as beauty is subjective and can depend on personal taste. However, there are certainly some concertos that are considered to be among the most beautiful ever written. These include works such as Beethoven's "Violin Concerto," Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1," and Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 2."