Also published at Seen and Heard International
After an arguably slow start to its 2023-24 season, the Seattle Symphony is gearing up for a packed schedule of concerts in November and December highlighting works by Brahms, Beethoven, Sibelius, Elgar, and Mahler. For the first concert of this ramp-up, the orchestra deftly tackled two major works with guest conductor Mark Wigglesworth’s first turn at the podium: Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto — featuring soloist Stephen Hough — and Elgar’s Second Symphony..
Hough has frequently performed in Benaroya Hall over the years, often playing crowd-pleasing works by Rachmaninov. This time, he traded in Rachmaninov for Brahms, taking on challenging work composed during a productive time in Brahms’ life, which also yielded his Second Symphony and Violin Concerto. Brahms’ First Piano Concerto dazzles with youthful bravura. But in contrast, the composer fills his Second Concerto with a varied and lyrical journey: The first two movements feature bracing moments, the somber third movement includes longing paragraphs of music and affecting cello and horn solos. And if that wasn’t enough, the piece concludes with a playful, catchy closing movement.
Continue reading Seattle Symphony shines in Brahms and Elgar, courtesy of Wigglesworth and Hough
Gathering Note 