Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto, composed over almost a decade, was premiered at a Viennese charity concert in 1795 for the welfare of musicians’ widows and orphans. While the witty first movement and lyrical slow movement are solidly Mozartean in color, tone and form, the rollicking finale is filled with gypsy tunes that allowed Beethoven, who was the conductor and soloist at the premiere, to show off his chops at the piano. Beethoven’s 8th symphony is a sophisticated reanimation of classical symphonic concepts with extreme dynamics and brilliantly expressive sections that would be echoed in the music of Robert Schumann decades later.

Fabio Luisi will conduct this concert, featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman.