Piano Concerto No. 3 in E minor "Ballade" op. 60

Composed: 1940–43, dedicated to Sir Jaya Chamaraya Wadiyar, His Highness The Maharaja of Mysore (With deep gratitude for the appreciation and furtherance of my work).

First performances: February 19, 1944 at Royal Albert Hall, with Sir Adrian Boult conducting, and the composer at the piano. June 5, 1944 at the Festival of Russian music for the benefit of the United Committee of Assistance to the Soviet Union (This was Medtner’s last public performance).

Publications: 1951: Reduction for two pianos by the author (Frankfurt am Main; Leipzig, Musikverlag Wilhelm Zimmerman). 1963: Full score: N. K. Medtner Complete Works. Vol. 12 (Moscow, State Music Publishing House).

First recording: 1947, Philharmonia Orchestra under Issay Dobrowen, Nikolai Medtner, piano (HMV DB6718/22).

Background: Nicolas Medtner was a Russian composer, pianist and teacher whose ancestors came from Northern Europe (his father was of Danish descent and his mother of Swedish and German origins). By the time Nicolas was born, his family had lived in Russia for two generations and had fully assimilated, although kept the German traditions.