Ignoring the Russian Revolution raging in the background, Prokofiev hit upon the idea of writing his first symphony as though Haydn were still writing music in 1917. The result is wonderfully light-hearted and whimsical. Nicknamed the ‘Classical’, it is not without a certain amount of impertinence for the classical form, meshing the tradition of clarity and formality with the renegade spirit of his early works. Schumann’s concerto, although outwardly resembling those of Mozart and Beethoven, broke new ground in several respects. Most strikingly it moved away from the contemporary use of the concerto as a showcase for the virtuoso pianist. Instead, piano and orchestra form an integrated whole, weaving subtle textures together with delightful lyricism. It was whilst working through his period of crisis with the onset of deafness that Beethoven completed the Second Symphony. The music is sunny and exuberant and bears no marks of his emotional turmoil. This symphony is a testament to Beethoven’s ability to transcend his own troubles in order to create beauty.

Works and composers

Prokofiev Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’
Schumann Piano Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No.2