Kabalevsky was born in Saint Petersburg. His father was a mathematician and encouraged him to study mathematics; however, in early life Dmitry maintained a fascination with the arts, and became an accomplished young pianist, including a three-year stint as a pianist in silent theatres. He also dabbled in poetry and painting. He graduated from the Academic Music College, Moscow in 1925, and against his father's wishes entered the Moscow Conservatory, studying for the next five years there composition under Nikolai Myaskovsky and piano with Alexander Goldenweiser. In 1925 he joined PROKULL (Production Collective of Student Composers), a student group affiliated with Moscow Conservatory aimed at bridging the gap between the modernism of the ACM and the utilitarian "agitprop" music of the RAPM. He started to teach in the Moscow Conservatory in 1932, becoming a professor in 1939.
About Dmitry Kabalevsky's grandfather: ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9,_%D0%9A%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%95%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87 Клавдий Егорович Кабалевский (31 марта 1844 год, Харьковская губерния - 26 июля 1915 года) - военный инженер, генерал-лейтенант (артиллерия), первый руководитель Луганского патронного завода (29 марта 1895 года - после 1 сентября 1905 года)[1][2][3][4]. Член Артиллерийского комитета Главного артиллерийского управления[2]. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Boris_Klavdievich_Kabalevsky%2C_Dmitri_Kabalevsky%2C_Elena_Kabalevsky._St._Petersburg%2C_1909.jpg Boris Klavdievich Kabalevsky and his children, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Elena Kabalevsky. St. Petersburg, 1909
Approximately 50 years ago - around my next to last year of HS - I managed to play the 1st movement of this work with a "Community Orchestra"----because our HS Orchestra director learned that I knew this piece. The joke was on him, because from several musicians in the audience all I heard was "You played better than the orchestra." Ms. Stott has recorded all 4 of Kabalevsky's Piano concerto's on the Chandos label. Enjoy.
I might add 2 small items. The speed of the majority of recorded performances is insane. For a professional pianist that's one thing, yet I don't think younger pianists should be trying to compete with these tempi. Also the 3rd movement is more difficult then the 1st mm!!
Quel beau concerto, si russe dans son deuxième mouvement, dont l'interprétation de référence reste pour moi celle de Guilels avec l'auteur à la direction d'orchestre.
