Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 | Nelson Freire, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra & Kazuki Yamada

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 | Nelson Freire, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra & Kazuki Yamada
60,664 views • Oct 9, 2021 • Considered the most beautiful of Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano concertos, his Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 is here performed in an atmospheric setting – the courtyard of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. This 2019 gala concert features the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kazuki Yamada, with Nelson Freire at the piano.

(00:23) I. Allegro moderato
(17:48) II. Andante con moto
(22:44) III. Rondo vivace

As often the case with Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827), the Piano Concerto No. 4 also begins with a break with tradition: For the first time, a classical concerto does not begin with an orchestral prelude, but with solo piano, which sets the dreamy, romantic theme. The lyrical, idyllic character of this opening and its artful interplay between piano and orchestra remain dominant throughout the entire concerto. Composed between 1804 and 1806, Beethoven’s Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra gifted the piano concerto genre a new form: Symphonic form and solo concerto merge into a kind of ‘symphonic piano concerto’, in which the three contrasting, individual movements achieve an accomplished unity.

Since 1959, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra has been being invited to perform in the central courtyard of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco. The space is a superb setting; not solely on account of its exemplary acoustics, but also for its opulent aesthetic – in particular the fantastic utilization of its marble staircase. The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra has been in existence since 1856, and figures amongst the international music scene’s most prominent orchestras. Kazuki Yamada has been principal conductor and artistic director of the OPMC since 2016.