Sunwook Kim plays Brahms

Programme

Sunwook Kim joins the Philharmonia for one of the all-time greats of the piano repertoire.

Brahms teasingly described his concerto in a letter to Clara Schumann as ‘a very small piano concerto with a very small and pretty scherzo.’ In fact, it’s a 50-minute masterclass in how to compose for piano and orchestra. Its four movements explore every facet of the piano’s expressive potential, by turns graceful and dramatic, stormy and tender.

Thirty years before Brahms premiered his concerto, Robert and Clara Schumann enjoyed a trip from their new home in Düsseldorf, along the Rhine to Cologne. It was the inspiration for the ‘Rhenish’ symphony, the last Robert Schumann wrote. The second movement evokes the broad, peacefully flowing river, the fourth, with its sombre brass chorales, tells of a ceremony the couple witnessed in Cologne Cathedral, and the work ends in celebratory mood.

There’s musical treasure from the Rhine in Santtu’s choice of opening piece too. Between brass fanfares evoking the grandeur and power of the Norse gods, singing woodwinds and rippling harp play the ‘Rhinegold’ theme that runs like a golden thread through Wagner’s entire Ring Cycle.

This concert was originally advertised with piano soloist Daniil Trifonov. Due to continuing visa issues, Daniil Trifonov will be unable to perform with us on Thursday 2 May. We are very grateful to Sunwook Kim for stepping in. The programme remains unchanged.