Having heard them back to back last night at Sheffield City Hall with Sunwook Kim and the Halle conducted by Mark Elder I as struck by just how much better a piece the Second Concerto seemed - much more conversationAL interplay between soloist and orchestra - leaving aside the duo with cello in the third movement , better tunes and much more interesting orchestration .
It surprised me as I do not think I had ever listened to them back to back before . It is not to say I do not love the First especially when in a great performance it attains an epic quality e.g Curzon/Szell but last night the Second seemed much the greater work .
It surprised me as I do not think I had ever listened to them back to back before . It is not to say I do not love the First especially when in a great performance it attains an epic quality e.g Curzon/Szell but last night the Second seemed much the greater work .