BEETHOVEN AND BRAHMS

Would you like to hear something punchy from the Western Classical music canon? Then Beethoven and Brahms with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is a great choice. On the weekend, Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven and Brahms brought together the two monumental names in the classical repertoire in a sold-out concert featuring pianist Sir Stephen Hough.

The concert begins with the stupendous fifth symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven. The re-arrangement of the orchestra gives extra strength to the persistent bass notes of this known-to-every-person symphony. Half a dozen double basses positioned behind the first violins lowers the register of that side of the stage, to balance the big brass instruments on the other side. The persistence of the timeless dun-dun-dun-daaa invades every corner of the concert hall.

The second movement is waltz-like and dignified, as if announcing royalty’s entrance. The King walks in and moves through the crowd, gracing some with a look, some with a wave, and some truly special people – with a smile. The music evolves into a dance - elegant and graceful, before returning to the grandiose phrases, with woodwinds in dialogue with the strings. The QSO delivers a crisp performance that leaves a satisfying impression in the listeners’ minds.

Post interval, the concert program features the first piano concerto by Johannes Brahms. Brahms wanted to write a piece that would stun the audience and be remembered as something as amazing as Beethoven’s music. He believed the concerto to be a failure. Yet here we are, watching one of the world’s leading pianists, Sir Stephen Hough, bring it to life as a response to Beethoven’s masterpiece.

It is a challenge to maintain the emotional intensity in this concerto, and it takes a master pianist to do with grace and consistency. The heart-wrenching melodies of the second movement make you forget this is an orchestral piece at times. A tribute to Clara Schumann, whom Brahms admired for years, the second is allusive and mesmerizing. Suddenly the pianist is all alone, baring his soul to the audience. When the orchestra picks him up mid-fall, it lifts him as if supported by clouds to continue floating through time and space. The wandering character of this amazing concerto makes you forget its monumental length of 50 minutes, and when the third movement kicks in, its sense of urgency and fluctuation between major and minor are charged with emotion and plenty of fire to pay tribute to Beethoven as Brahms intended with this concerto.

This could be our favourite concert from the QSO 2025 program so far. Only half-way through the year, and there are plenty of orchestral gems to enjoy!