27 January 2025
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Legendary pianist Martha Argerich returns to the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra as soloist in Beethoven's Second Piano Concerto on 23 February in Oxford at the Sheldonian and on 24 February in London at the Barbican Centre
Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto was the second published but the first completed. The concerto contained innovative contrasts in dynamics and mood, but was also deeply indebted to Mozart’s piano concertos, especially in its structure. Thus, an adventurous work from Beethoven’s period of discipleship emerged, but a work with which he was dissatisfied for several years. The composer continued to play the concerto while making drastic revisions on it until 1801, when he finally consigned it to a publisher. By that time, he had composed and published his C Major Concerto as No 1 (Op 15), so the B flat Concerto became No 2 by default.
Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto is a favourite of Martha Argerich. Watch this performance with the Mannheimer Philharmonic:
And from 2000, with her friend Claudio Abbado and the Orchestra del Festival Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli:
Sunday 23 February, 19.30
Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street
Monday 24 February, 19.30
Coleridge-Taylor Ballade in A minor, Op. 33* Side-by-Side
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
Martha Argerich piano
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
Marios Papadopoulos conductor
Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor*
Photo © Belinda Lawley