Am just wondering which piano concertos would be best to learn first. This is for a competent pianist of grade 8+ standard. Any suggestions?

The ones you like of course! I love Beethoven's emperor concerto (no5). Have no idea what level it is.

None of the Beethoven ones is particularly difficult, but I suggest No 3 in C Minor, then the Emperor later. The Schumann is also fairly straightforward. I have also been told Shostakovich No 2 is not so difficult technically though I never tried it myself (gorgeous second movement!)

I would start off with the Mozart and early Beethoven Piano Concertos.

Any particular Mozart ones?

Maybe No 20 Mozart.

Me too!

It's regarded as the easiest of the five, so might be a good one to start with. I'm only ( ) grade 7, but I almost completed the second movement of this before I had to give up my lessons. I play it still when I get a moment.

Perhaps No 19 in F.

According to who? There was I thinking that it is the most difficult of the five!. The second movement is quite easy, the outer movements are anything but. I'd rank Beethoven's in the following order of difficulty (easiest first)

No 1, No 3, No 4, No 2, No 5.

Wow! The choices!

Has anyone played the Bach F minor concerto (BWV1056)? I've just been listening to a recording of it and the entire work is about 10mins.

Yes I agree with that Tom, not much to choose between 1 and 3 for easiest. First one I tried was No 3.

I've seen it written a couple of times in books that I have here. As soon as I find them, I'll quote them. It's not my opinion. I agree that the 1st and 3rd movements are probably the hardest of the five, but as the OP says it's for a player of grade 8 standard, s/he may/may not find No 5 easy.

But then Fsharpminor says none of them are particularly difficult..I guess it's down to personal opinion as always. But I bow to greater wisdom.


I'm more likely to tackle the opening movement to No 4 before I even consider No 5.

If you take the advice of Mozart first and then wish to move to Beethoven's 3rd, you should try K491, also in C minor, which was Beethoven's inspiration (compare the opening phrases).

Re the "Emperor": I agree that it is difficult. There are scale passages that can sound like practice unless you have bags of technique and personality to carry them off. Bad performances have somewhat less drastic effects on 3 and 4.

For a start with fewer technical challenges, the Walter Leigh "Concertino for piano or harpsichord and strings" is a very attractive work.

I agree with everyone else, start with Mozart and Beethoven. Schumann isn't too difficult, but is quite long. Grieg seems to be a popular concerto to start with as well.
Steer clear of the Chopins, Rachmaninovs, Liszts, Brahms concertos etc for now, they're incredibly difficult!