Lars Vogt and the Royal Northern Sinfonia continue their series of Brahms concertos with the Second Concerto in B flat major. Like the first album, the concerto is paired with solo piano music by the composer – in this case the Handel Variations, an earlier work that Brahms dedicated to Clara Schumann.
BBC Music Magazine Choice
Featuring
Lars Vogt
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Johannes Brahms
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Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms's reflection on older music, like Handel's, helped him find a way to begin new compositions and provided a solid foundation for his work.
Recording & Production
The Piano Concerto No. 2 was recorded in February 2019 at Sage Gateshead Concert Hall, UK, while the Handel Variations were recorded in December 2019 at Kammermusiksaal DLF, Cologne, Germany.
Performer Biography
Lars Vogt, the pianist and conductor on this album, won second prize at the 1990 Leeds International Piano Competition.
Compositional Technique
The Handel Variations explore the theme's many facets, culminating in a grand fugue that reflects on old music and provides a radiant, festive ending.
Compositional Technique
In the Handel Variations, Brahms focused on the bass line, similar to Bach's Goldberg Variations, to create a new musical cosmos.
Performer Biography
Royal Northern Sinfonia, the orchestra on this recording, is the UK's only full-time chamber orchestra, founded in 1958.
Performer Biography
Lars Vogt has served as Music Director of Royal Northern Sinfonia, the orchestra on this recording, since September 2015.
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