Mozart's. Jan Ladislav Dussek At the beginning of the 19th century, composers of piano concertos were still strongly influenced by the works of Haydn and Mozart. Jan Ladislav Dussek, who came from Čáslav in Bohemia, wrote nearly twenty piano concertos within three decades. While his early compositions clearly show the influence of his role models, later works demonstrate increasing independence and innovation. This selection comprises three piano concertos from different periods of Dussek's career. After his birth in Bohemia, his path led him to St. Petersburg, through Lithuania and Paris, and on to London, before he returned to his homeland. Dussek's piano concertos, which constitute a significant part of his orchestral oeuvre, are characterized by the classical three-movement structure and place increasing demands on the soloist. It is noteworthy that Dussek consciously dispensed with the customary solo cadenza, a practice adopted by subsequent composers.
The Piano Concerto in E-flat major, Op. 3, while remaining true to classical form, surprises with its modulatory turns. The Adagio in minor unfolds a lyrical character, while the concluding Rondo, with its vivacity, is reminiscent of Haydn. With the F major Concerto, Op. 14, composed around 1791, Dussek demonstrates a further development toward his own themes and sophisticated harmonies. In contrast, the G minor Concerto, Op. 49, stands out with its darker, more serious mood and formal innovations. The opening movement impresses with its innovative compositional forms, the Adagio in E-flat major with its delicacy, and the final Rondo with its rhythmic energy.
The G minor Concerto, in particular, illustrates Dussek's courage in exploring new avenues in thematic development and expands the harmonic possibilities, a technique later adopted by Romantic composers. Its movements are meticulously orchestrated; For example, the amplified tutti in the E-flat major movement creates a distinctive sound. Dussek concludes the G minor concerto with a blend of dramatic expression and melodic rhythm, remaining consistently true to the dark minor character.