Dvorak cello concerto

Thanks. Du Pré/Barenboim/CSO is my go to I’m assuming.

That’s a pretty strong choice. Yo Yo’s recording of it with Kurt Masur and the NY Phil is also most excellent

Currently playing it, and I totally agree!

Ravel g major

Thanks. I remember one hearing this live and was taken aback by the contrast between the second movement and the others.

Bach’s italian concerto also has quite a contrasting second movement

In addition to this, Shostakovich no. 2

This concerto is new to my life and honestly? Heartbreaking. That middle movement just has no business…

Moszkowski piano concerto

An undisputed classic.

In E major opus 59, I concur

Korngold's violin concerto is so beautiful!

Korngold's anything is pretty beautiful to be honest. I'm a huge fan of his string quartets.

Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 slow movement

I was just about to suggest this. The first note on the piano is a like a ray of light breaking through the clouds on an overcast day. And those opening strings set the scene perfectly imho. Hauntingly beautiful.

Thanks - any recommended rendition?

I musici de montreal: Maxim Shostakovich x Dimitri Shostakovich Jr. Although some inconsistencies with the first movement, this rendition is by far the best out them all in both technique, speed and interpretation.

Thanks, much appreciated! :)

I'll assume you mean "slow movement" and that it actually does not have to be an adagio. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto k.622, Sinfonia Concertante k.364, Piano Concertos 20, 21, 23

I'm not a big Mozart fan. But I think the slow movements his 40/41 symphonies are absolutely beautiful. Edit:  Not concertos though

mozart flute & harp

And clarinet of course

Barber Violin Concerto Bruch Violin Concerto Brahms Double Concerto Oh…too many.

I second the Barber and Bruch

I second every last second of the second for Barber :) Jeez, that thing makes me cry!

Never too many, keep ‘em coming!

The Largo of Beethoven's 3rd Piano Concerto is also incredibly beautiful

And also one of his pieces with the smallest subdivision of notes! 1/256 notes I believe? Brendel/Haitink/London was the first version I heard and I'm still partial to it. https://youtu.be/5lDzE1_YgnQ?si=2mZvl4Fz27JDNAzT

The second movement from Scriabin's Piano Concerto contains some of the most beautiful piano writing that I've heard in tandem with an orchestra. More specifically, the theme, first and fourth variations best fit your slow movement idea and are very gorgeous.

Someone once said to me it was like an old Russian Christmas carol and I cannot unhear that.

Concierto de Aranjuez adagio

Mozart piano concerto 9. I always go crazy around the mid section when he goes for a progression in Eb absolutely stunning. It’s decades if not more ahead of his time. Around the end of the movement he repeats the same progression but in Cm and it’s even more beautiful. I don’t know if it was intended but to me that sounds the most “in love” Mozart can ever sound. And by the end of it it’s probably a love story with a bittersweet ending.

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.1, 2nd mvt (Revised version) Kabalevsky Piano Concerto No.2, 2nd mvt (Revised version) Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1, 1st/3rd mvt, if those count

Bach Concerto for Violin and Oboe, the adagio is so gorgeous. The concerto in my opinion is underrated and very beautiful.

Grieg.

Brahms, Bruch, and Beethoven’s violin concerto

Wieniawski violin concerto no. 2 2nd movement. It makes me almost cry every time.

Any preferred renditions?

Mozart Piano Concerto 17

The slow movement from Haydn's horn concerto (especially as played by Hermann Baumann) is stunning.

Grieg piano concerto

Dvorak violin concerto. Beautiful, relaxing.

I feel like the second movement of the Sibelius violin concerto often gets forgotten about, because the outer movements are such heavy hitters. Not sure if it's my absolute favorite, but it's up there.

Most of my favourites have already been mentioned so I’ll try to add something new: Bach Keyboard/Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 second movement (it’s Largo but still incredible) Bach Keyboard/Harpsichord Concerto No. 1, second movement (maybe check out all the Bach Keyboard/Harpsichord concertos) Grieg Piano Concerto Bartok Piano Concerto No. 3, second movement (at least the first half of it) Moszkowski Piano Concerto, second movement If you enjoy acoustic guitar: Concierto de Aranjuez second movement by Joaquin Rodrigo

Correction: I mixed up Bach concertos, I meant to say his d minor concerto BWV 974, not his first keyboard/harpsichord concerto

I’m shocked at how few people have suggested Mozart yet. The number of incredible middle movements in his piano concertos is staggering. Try, for example, the slow movements to Nos 15 and 12 - absolutely amazing, and they’re not even the famous ones. You can’t go wrong with any of 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20 (the closing music from Amadeus), 21 (the most famous of all of them), or 27 for the kind of music you’re after. Then there are the minor key ones, 9, 18, 22, and 23, all of which are brilliant and the last of which will rip your guts out and leave you in pieces. Also, in case nobody has mentioned it yet, Chopin 1’s middle movement is absolutely gorgeous.

Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2

I love both Chopin’s piano concertos no. 1&2 2nd movement… so beautiful! Also Liszt’s piano concerto no. 1!

Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3; his Piano Concerto No. 4 is technically cast into two movements, each being divided into 2 parts - and the 2nd part of the 1st movement is sublime. Recently I "discovered" Martinu's Harpsichord Concerto, and its slow movement is also incredibly beautiful.

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 - so beautiful, even after many many many listenings

Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez and Ravel Piano Concerto in G (probably biased as an English horn player lol)

Brahm's 2nd Piano concerto. The cello solo is amazing.

I watched a recording of this piece for the first time this week, the Berlin Philharmonic a couple years ago with Sir Andras Schiff. It was the first time I'd seen multiple curtain calls for someone other than the main soloist in a concerto work.

Mozart piano concerto k488. I still like Perahia's.

Bach Double Violin Concerto Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3

Bach F minor

Passacaglia and cadenza of Shostakovich vln concerto No. 1, Haydn cello concerto C major Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27

John Ireland Piano Concerto

Mozart Clarinet Concerto.

My favorite mvt of Rach 3 is the second movement, so I'll have to say that.

[удалено]

I’ve been listening to the 3rd piano concerto for a long time. Recently started listening to the remaining 4 of his, and was stunned my the second movement of the 5th piano concerto.

The second movement of Herbert's Cello Concerto in E minor. I love it so much I got a tattoo of it.

Tchaikovsky Second Piano Concerto in G major. The second movement is a poignant love song between solo violin and cello, like in “Swan Lake”.

Chopin E minor…..

Strauss’s Second Horn Concerto - just gorgeous.

Strauss’s Second Horn Concerto - just gorgeous.

Marcello oboe concerto, underrated

Brahms piano concerto 2nd.

Beethovens 5th piano concerto is a masterpiece like no other tho.

For me without a doubt [W.A Mozarts’ Clarinet Concerto in A major K622, second mvt.](https://youtu.be/YT_63UntRJE?t=778&si=y6-hLs_ZDj29_K6G) The epitome of Adagio.

Bartok 2.

Beethoven's 5th Concerto's 2nd movement Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor's 2nd movement

phillip glass violin concerto 2nd mvt elgar cello concerto 3rd mvt

All of them by Mozart - such anticipation of the Romantic period in the slow movements of his concerti emotional expression but restraint pulls at the heart strings too. Also the dialogue and dramatic exchange between the individual soloists and the orchestra. Totally brilliant. The clarinet concerto is a good example regarding the OP. Absolutely prescient.

It's a great way to sift out the great pianists from the also-rans. With these concertos, a certain sensibility is required to know when to let Mozart's silences speak, and when to trot out one's own trills and cadenzas. For me, restraint always speak the loudest.

Indeed - and it is the moment of truth as their character and taste is revealed! Thanks for your comment.

Beethoven's 5th, sure

Prok violin 2, mvt 2

Beethoven 3. Lamond plays it beautifully.

I would've said Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto even before I read the rest of your post. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto's adagio is also great.

Definitely Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. I’m biased since I’m a guitarist but I think this is one of the best compositions in the classical repertoire. Also the second movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

Ravel Piano Concerto in G minor’s adagio

Beethoven 4, so simple yet so effective in my opinion.