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Brahms Piano concerto 2 program notes, recordings and sheet music

 

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83

Composer: Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Johannes Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83, is a monumental work, often described as a "symphony with piano obbligato" due to its expansive scale, rich orchestral textures, and the integrated, chamber-music-like interplay between the soloist and the ensemble. Composed between 1878 and 1881, during a creatively fertile period for Brahms, this concerto stands in stark contrast to the youthful Sturm und Drang of his First Piano Concerto. Here, we encounter a mature Brahms, confident in his command of the symphonic form and full of autumnal warmth and wisdom.

The concerto opens with a majestic and pastoral Allegro non troppo movement, featuring a glorious horn call that is answered by the piano's rolling chords, immediately setting a tone of serene grandeur. This movement is characterized by its broad, sweeping melodies and a sense of unhurried power. Uniquely, Brahms then follows with not one, but two fast movements. The second movement, an Allegro appassionato, serves as a powerful, tempestuous scherzo, full of dramatic drive and brilliant pianistic demands, giving the soloist a chance to truly shine in a virtuosic display. The third movement, an Andante, is a sublime and deeply moving lyrical heart of the concerto, featuring an exquisite cello solo that introduces one of Brahms's most heartfelt melodies, with the piano offering tender commentary and rich harmonies. The finale, an Allegretto grazioso, is a joyful and light-hearted rondo, brimming with

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