Beethoven & Brahms, in dialogue

An evening of drama, intimacy and symphonic warmth.

By Musicdaily editors 03 Nov 2025

A symphony orchestra performing together on a warmly lit concert stage — Illustrative concert photograph. The concert details below are a design sample.Photo: Manuel Nägeli · Unsplash · Cropped for display.

Orchestra: Northbank Festival Orchestra
Conductor: James Ellis
Soloist: Clara Bennett, piano
Venue & date: Riverside Hall, London · 1 Nov 2025

The review

The evening found its shape in contrasts: the urgency of Beethoven, the intimacy of the piano, and the expansive warmth of Brahms. What connected them was an ensemble listening closely to itself.

01 / Beethoven

Egmont Overture

The concert opened with a taut and compelling account of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture. The playing was urgent without being rushed, shaping the dramatic arc with real purpose. Dynamic contrasts were finely judged, from the brooding opening to the triumphant close.

02 / Beethoven

Piano Concerto No. 4

Clara Bennett gave a thoughtful and immersed performance of Beethoven’s Fourth Concerto. Her playing was poised and expressive, finding the music’s lyricism without smoothing over its edges.

The orchestra responded with sensitivity throughout, matching the soloist’s phrasing and colour. Together they found an ideal balance between reflection and momentum, with a beautifully judged slow movement and a finale that sparkled without hurry.

“The strongest moments came when the orchestra listened as closely as the soloist.”

Movement notes · Piano Concerto No. 4

I. Allegro moderato

The piano’s gentle opening grows into a spacious conversation with the orchestra.

II. Andante con moto

Terse orchestral statements meet a quieter piano voice before the distance between them narrows.

III. Rondo: Vivace

A buoyant finale, shaped by light rhythmic exchanges between soloist and ensemble.

03 / Brahms

Symphony No. 2

After the interval, Brahms’s Second Symphony brought a warm, expansive close. The strings played with a rich, rounded tone, and the woodwind were characterful and expressive. The final movement built with steady momentum, its uplifting energy creating a genuinely joyful end to the evening.

The evening as a whole

This was a thoughtfully shaped programme, performed with commitment and a real sense of listening between players. Beethoven’s drama and introspection, and Brahms’s expansive warmth, were allowed to speak in their own voices, adding up to a memorable evening.

Design sample. Concert details and review text are illustrative.

Sample review · 03 Nov 2025

Explore more

More concert reviews The piano archive