They've Got a Little Liszt...

As the story goes, Austrian music critic Eduard Hanslick, following a performance of Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1, dubbed the piece "The Triangle Concerto" due to the composer's shocking audacity of orchestrating the lowly triangle into the percussion section of the work.  As a feared critic, his remark had the effect of preventing performances of the concerto in Vienna for 12 years.  At the time, no pianist would dare risk the possible detriment to a career until one Sophie Menter of Munich had the courage to try a public performance.  Thankfully, the triangle remains a definite part of the orchestration.  Liszt had this advice for percussionists:

"As regards the triangle, I do not deny that it may give offence, especially if struck too strong and not precisely.  A preconceived disinclination and objection to instruments of percussion prevails, somewhat justified by the frequent misuse of them.  And few conductors are circumspect enough to bring out the rhythmic elements in them..."

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, triangles included, under Maestro Lucas Richman will perform the Liszt Piano Concerto in E-flat Major, No. 1, on this week's concerts with pianist Alexander Ghindin.  The concert will open with Wagner's Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin and conclude with Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5.  The concerts, entitled "Richman Conducts Mahler," are Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre.