An idea enchanted in form

The evening of May 29, 2026, at the Szczecin Philharmonic promises a meeting with two masters of musical form: Beethoven and Bruckner. Their works, though different, share a profound reflection on structure and emotion.

Ludwig van Beethoven, composing his Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, in 1805-1806, introduced innovative formal solutions. For the first time, the piano begins the concerto solo, without an orchestral introduction, which was groundbreaking at the time. The second movement, Andante con moto, is often interpreted as a musical representation of the Orpheus myth, where the piano symbolizes Orpheus’s voice soothing the anger of the orchestra, Hades. The final rondo is a lively conclusion that combines virtuosity with lyricism.

The public premiere took place on December 22, 1808, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna during a concert marathon in which Beethoven appeared as the soloist. This concerto was his last major public performance as a pianist. The work was dedicated to Archduke Rudolf, the composer’s pupil and patron.
In Szczecin, we will hear this concerto interpreted by Charles Richard-Hamelin, a Canadian pianist who gained international recognition after winning the 2nd prize and the Krystian Zimerman Award at the Chopin Competition in 2015. Hamelin is a frequent guest in Poland. He completed studies in Montreal, Yale, and McGill University, and his repertoire includes Chopin as well as Beethoven and Brahms.