Dresdner Philharmonie

Programme Benjamin Britten "Young Apollo" for piano, string quartet, and string orchestra Thomas Adès Piano Concerto Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major Britten's "Young Apollo" opens the concert with radiance and energy, almost rapidly. It serves as a contrast to Beethoven's last piano concerto with its youthfulness and speed. Already deaf, Beethoven could not hear it at its premiere, but the virtuosic cadenzas at the beginning already ingrained themselves in the ears of the audience at the time, which was completely unusual. Beethoven's mature late work also contrasts with the piano concerto by the British composer Thomas Adès. It is partially so difficult that even top pianists describe it as "intimidating," and it presents something manic and driven in contrast to Beethoven's heroic and powerful compositions. Our Artist in Residence, Kirill Gerstein, opens our Beethoven focus on the occasion of his 200th death anniversary with this concert.