Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

Note: This composition was written specifically for a Bechstein-Moor grand piano, which has two keyboards.

Recording: Not yet available

Manuscripts: Located at the National Library of Israel Music Department, the Marc Lavry Archive, System Number(s) 990038279740205171

Synopsis:

A 1931 placard for the premiere of the Concerto for Piano Op 10

The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 10, was the first composition ever written for a two-keyboard piano, the Bechstein-Moor grand piano, named after its inventor, composer and pianist Emánuel Moór.

The concerto debuted on January 18, 1931 at the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Berliner Sinfonie Orchester) concert, at the Bach Hall. The soloist was renowned pianist Fritz Hans Rehbold and Marc Lavry was the conductor. The concert, during which the piano was introduced to the musical community, was attended by the top musicians of Berlin. The critiques praised the composer and the pianist.
The concerto was later performed in Riga too.

Lavry and the Bechstein-Moor grand piano

Anecdote:
As a promotion for their new instrument Bechstein, the German manufacturer, sponsored a competition for the development of a notation method for this piano. Lavry won first place and published a pianist’s guide for the Bechstein-Moor grand piano.
—From the book ‘Doubly Expelled’ (Doppelt vertrieben) by Prof. Dr. Jascha Nemtsov, Chair for History of Jewish Music at the Liszt School of Music in Weimar, Germany, published in November 2013.