Mozart – Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor K.466
Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No 2 in F major Op. 102
Sibelius – Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Op. 82
Rick Prakhoff – conductor
Kristian Chong – piano
Kristian Chong, one of Australia’s foremost concert pianists, plays not one but two famous piano concertos in this concert. Beethoven loved Mozart Piano Concerto No 20 and played it often in his performances. This will be followed by Shostakovich’s uncharacteristically cheerful 2nd Piano Concerto, which he composed for the 19th birthday of his accomplished pianist son, Maxim.
The concert ends with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. This was commissioned by the Finnish Government to mark the composer’s 50th birthday, which was declared a national holiday in his honour.