Work: Symphony no. 2 in D major, Op.73

Donald Runnicles demonstrates his superior musicianship in a warm, intelligently crafted reading of Brahms' Symphony no. 2 in D major, with Andrea Lam as a sensitive and reserved soloist in Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto.

Brahms’ Second Symphony leads on from where Rachmaninov’s most difficult concerto leaves off as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic presents a balanced programme under Domingo Hindoyan. 

The Hong Kong Philharmonic's performances of Brahms' Second and Fourth symphonies at City Hall prove acoustically problematic under chief conductor Jaap van Zweden. 

Nicola Benedetti dazzled in Szymanowski's Violin Concerto no 2 after the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder had impressed  with a colourful Fountains of Rome. Measured Brahms completed the programme.

Zubin Mehta, Siobhan Stagg and the players of the AWO were on top of their game in works by Webern, Debussy and Brahms, where the connections were as potent as the contrasts.