Orchestre Pasdeloup : Romantismes

The nineteenth century in all its richness: the impressive Piano Concerto No. 2 by Brahms under the fingers of the young Polonais Szymon Nehring, Wagner’s imposing overture and two jewels of the French repertoire.

Brahms began work on his Piano Concerto No. 2 in May 1878 and finished the score in June 1881, during a summer stay near Vienna. Shortly afterwards, he informed his friend Emma Engelmann of having “written a beautiful and great piano concerto” which, “in its abundance”, also contains a scherzo. In fact, the work has four movements, unusual at the time for a concerto but perfectly legitimate as a work taking the form of “a great symphony with piano obliged”. The majesty of the Ouverture des Maîtres singers of Nuremberg de Wagner and two orchestral excerpts from the most famous operas of Thomas and Saint-Saëns offer this epic work a welcome counterpoint.