Beethoven 4 and Schnittke’s Piano Concerto

Sparkling invention, sharp contrasts and Beethovenian mischief drive this compelling programme.

Pablo Heras-Casado begins with Prokofiev’s ‘Classical’ Symphony, a work that reimagines 18th-century style with irrepressible lightness, speed and wit. Steven Osborne then takes the solo role in Schnittke’s Piano Concerto, a gripping score that moves between intimacy, tension and explosive power. In earlier Philharmonia appearances, Osborne was hailed by The Telegraph as “in the top tier of pianists worldwide”, and this searching, unpredictable concerto shows exactly why.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 completes the evening with lyrical grace, subtle humour and a thrilling sense of rhythmic life. Overshadowed at times by the symphonies on either side of it, it remains one of Beethoven’s most perfectly judged creations: alert, elegant and full of surprises.

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