BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor
COULT: St John's Dance (BBC Commission: world premiere)

Igor Levit piano
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor

Award-winning pianist Igor Levit is the soloist in Beethoven's groundbreaking Third Piano Concerto. It was in this work for his favourite musical instrument that Beethoven broke free of the influences of his great predecessors Mozart and Haydn and forged his highly personal style of grand gestures contrasted with passages of great calm and tenderness. The Russian-born Levit has made Beethoven central to his repertoire and despite being just 30 years old has already garnered prestigious accolades for his interpretations of the Viennese master, including the Gramophone magazine's 'Recording of the Year 2016' award. We also hear the world premiere of St John's Dance by rising British composer Tom Coult.

BBC Radio 3's Sara Mohr-Pietsch is joined by Nottingham University Professor Nicholas Baragwanath, an expert on the music of the First Viennese School.

(Photo: Igor Levit at the BBC Proms 2017. Credit: BBC) Show less