Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto in C minor, No. 3

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Idomeneo – Ballet music

Josef Haydn Symphony in D, No. 101, “The Clock”

BBC Philharmonic
Stephen Hough piano
Mark Wigglesworth conductor

Tonight we hear Beethoven’s third piano concerto, a dark and exciting piece first performed in April 1800 with the composer himself as soloist. Beethoven's friend, Ignaz von Seyfried reported that, as was often the case, Beethoven hadn’t actually finished writing the score before its first performance and played it from memory! Stephen Hough follows in his footsteps this evening – with a completed score!

Next, the ballet music from Idomeneo, a 1780 commission for Mozart which premiered in Munich in 1781. Composed in the baroque tradition of the opera seria, it is a lyrical tragedy and tells the story of the king of Crete. It is said Mozart referred in letters to “These accursed dances!” - but the soaring music belies any struggle he may have encountered in his art.

Finally we hear from ‘The father of symphony.’ Haydn’s balanced and elegant Symphony No. 101 or Clock Symphony as it is affectionately known, gets its nickname from the pacey, rhythmic second movement, and the almost hypnotic tick-tock idea it introduces. Once you pick up on it, try tuning out!