Boston Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 & Firebird

Lang Lang, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and their Music Director Andris Nelsons team up for the second night of their residency pairing masterpieces by Beethoven and Stravinsky. Beethoven was just 17 when he began work on his first piano concerto – published as No 2. – and The Firebird was Stravinsky’s first ballet score. But there’s no hint of inexperience about either of these works. In the hands of global phenomenon Lang Lang, the drama, emotion and grace of Beethoven’s concerto are as fresh as the day it was written. The Firebird is based on stories from Russian folklore, with a colourful cast including a huntsman prince, a magical bird, an evil monster and thirteen enchanted princesses. It’s the perfect showcase for Stravinsky’s masterful orchestration skills and harmonic and rhythmic originality. The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s gloriously lush sound is just the thing for fairytales - hold on to your hats for the blazing full-orchestra fanfare of the finale. Programme Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No 2 Igor Stravinsky The Firebird (Ballet)