The might and power of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony comes up against the dazzling virtuosity of Chopin. It is in the Fifth Symphony that you truly encounter the genius of Beethoven through the musical manifestations of his intimate thoughts, his secret sorrows and his intensely concentrated rage. If listened to with fresh ears, it is still possible to be astonished at the force and compressive power of this awesome vision of triumph over tragedy. Chopin’s early-Romantic concerto par excellence is dominated by the piano with the orchestra merely providing a light accompaniment. Brimming with bold and colourful details, Chopin’s delicate touch shines through and his poetical imagination lingers long in the memory. Verdi’s intricate writing and captivating harmonic language make this quite an overture – the changes in character from solemn to jubilant creating both intrigue and wonder.