Berner Symphonieorchester
Krzysztof Urbański conductor
Francesco Piemontesi piano

Johannes Brahms
Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

Invited by the OSR, the Berner Symphonieorchester, conducted by Krzysztof Urbanski, and the Swiss pianist Francesco Piemontesi offer an immersive journey into the world of Johannes Brahms, a leading figure of German Romanticism, in this programme devoted entirely to the composer.

Composed at a time when Brahms was struggling to come to terms with the death of his friend and mentor Robert Schumann, the Piano Concerto No. 1 is surprising in many ways. One is striking for its gravity and emotional intensity, the other for the way the solo part constantly blends with the voices of the orchestra rather than dictating the work’s concertante rhythm. The Symphony No. 2, meanwhile, offers a glimpse of a brighter and more serene side to Brahms, in a more mature style reminiscent of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.