Bristol Classical Players Brahms Symphony No 1, Mozart Piano Concerto No 23

Following their Beethoven series, Bristol Classical Players discover the four symphonies by his greatest disciple, Brahms, played in a series of four concerts. They will be paired with short works by Mozart, Dvorak and Mahler - plus new pieces by excellent Bristol-based, young composers. Bristol Classical Players' Brahms series concludes with his magnificent 1st symphony. Aware of the weight of history and his desperation to make his symphony a worthy successor to Beethoven, Brahms worked on it for 20 years - and produced an unqualified masterpiece, recognised immediately as one of the greatest pieces in history. The work begins with pounding, stormy timpani before making its journey to a thrilling, brass-led conclusion. We are pleased to welcome back multi-award-winning pianist Rupert Egerton-Smith to play Mozart's happiest piano concerto, in A major. There will also be a new work inspired by Brahms - details TBC! - by a local composer. After more than a century, Brahms' Symphonies are still regarded as perfect examples of the composer's art; combining rigour and emotional intensity. From the tribute to Bach that concludes the tragic 4th Symphony, to the joyous, brass-led chorale that ends the 1st, these great pieces offer a world of imagination and beauty rarely experienced.