Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on tour: Bratislava

Rafael Payare concludes the Orchestra’s tour in Europe with an excursion through the musical landscape of Hungary, infused with native folk melodies that dance with an infectious rhythm and relentless drive. Beethoven’s Symphony No 2 follows, a work of his early career that is filled with the vigour of youth and peppered with musical jests, whilst also maintaining a sense of grandeur and dignity to its conclusion. As Berlioz remarked, ‘this Symphony is smiling throughout.’

Closing the concert is Brahms’s Symphony No 1, a symphony which stands on the shoulders of the German giants and creates a unique and introspective exploration of classical and romantic traditions with subtlety and a triumphant vision.