Lugansky - Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 (1881)
Nikolai Lugansky, soloist
Dmitry Khrychov, first cello
Yuri Temirkanov conducting St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, 2018

I.
[0:00] Expos. (Allegro non troppo)
[0:49] Cadenza
[1:45] Expos. - Orchestra (cont.)
[3:31] Expos. - Solo
[8:09] Expos. - Orchestra closing
[8:46] Dev.
[12:12] Recap.
[15:27] Coda

II.
[17:55] Expos. - Theme 1 (Allegro appassionato)
[18:36] Expos. - Theme 2 (tranquillo e dolce)
[19:48] Expos. - Repeat
[21:39] Dev. - (Trio. largamente 22:47)
[24:56] Recap.
[26:36] Coda

III.
[27:15] A (Andante)
[33:55] B (Più Adagio)
[35:40] A’ (Tempo I) - to B♭ major 36:28
[38:10] Coda (Più Adagio)

IV.
[39:29] A (Allegretto grazioso)
[40:43] B (poco espress. - dolce - dolce)
[42:42] A’ (grazioso)
[45:34] B’ (poco espress. - ben marcato - dolce)
[46:57] Coda (Un poco più presto)



“[Brahm’s second concerto] is more of a symphony, not only in the sense of the role of orchestra and piano; it is a whole cosmos, and every time you enter it again. This concerto is special in that there are no definitive answers in it, as is sometimes the case with Beethoven, perhaps even Rachmaninoff. He creates a joyful and contemplative mode using the absolutely insane possibilities of the piano: one can imagine children's joy and openness when a new day has come; one can imagine an old man who has gone through mad losses and comes to the conclusion that the world is still beautiful. I can’t compare this concerto to any other; It’s a giant open music book.”

- Lugansky, 2019 (translated)