Latest news with #PianoConcertoNo2
Irish Independent
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops Classic FM poll for third year
The music topped the annual Classic FM Hall Of Fame poll with 90,000 votes cast by the public, crowning one of Rachmaninov's pieces as the nation's favourite. The Russian-born composer finished his classic concerto in 1901, after he overcame depression, and dedicated the piece to his doctor, Nikolai Dahl, who helped him through that period of his life. Meanwhile, at number two is Welsh composer, Sir Karl Jenkins, with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace marking his highest ranking in the chart. The song was originally dedicated to victims of the war in Kosovo, with Jenkins taking this as an opportunity to highlight ongoing conflicts around the world. Jenkins said: 'I'm honoured and humbled that The Armed Man has reached its highest ever position in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025, particularly as I look at all the great masters, past and present, that sit on this list with me. 'With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of The Armed Man, I look back with great fondness to the premiere in 2000 at the first ever Classic FM Live concert, and I'm delighted that this piece has found resonance globally with so many of you over the years. It is wonderful that Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece which appeals across the generations Classic FM Breakfast presenter Dan Walker 'I regret to say that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, but we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen, and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.' The number one film score was voted as the emotional soundtrack to Schindler's List, composed by John Williams, who is also behind the Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter movie themes. The poll found that Mozart remains the nation's most popular composer, followed by Tchaikovsky, who overtook Beethoven and Bach. The chart also saw a growing number of entries for modern composers, including Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi who had five pieces in the new Classic FM Hall Of Fame. The results were announced by Dan Walker, presenter of Classic FM Breakfast, who said: 'Every year, the Classic FM Hall Of Fame provides a fascinating insight into the nation's favourite classical music and how those music tastes are changing, and this year – the 30th Hall Of Fame – is no exception. 'It is wonderful that Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece which appeals across the generations. 'It's also exciting to see the growing popularity of film music, with 37 entries this year, and increased recognition for modern and living composers. Names like Ludovico Einaudi, Phamie Gow, and, of course, the legendary Sir Karl Jenkins are climbing up the chart, showcasing how classical music keeps evolving at the same time as honouring the greats.' The Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025 Top 20: 1. Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No 22. Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace3. Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending4. Vaughan Williams – Fantasia On A Theme5. Elgar – Enigma Variations6. Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No 27. Allegri – Miserere8. Beethoven – Piano Concerto No 5 ('Emperor')9. Beethoven – Symphony No 9 ('Choral')10. Holst – The Planets11. Williams – Schindler's List12. Beethoven – Symphony No 6 ('Pastoral')13. Shore – The Lord Of The Rings14. Morricone – The Mission (includes Gabriel's Oboe)15. Mozart – Requiem16. Ungar – The Ashokan Farewell17. Barber – Adagio For Strings18. Dvorak – Symphony No 9 ('From The New World')19. Faure – Requiem20. Mozart – Clarinet Concerto
Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
UK's favourite piece of classical music revealed
The UK's favourite piece of classical music has been revealed. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 has been voted the nation's favourite piece of classical music for the third consecutive year, according to the annual Classic FM Hall of Fame. The concerto topped the poll, with 90,000 votes from members of the public, beating popular favourites such as Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No 5 and John Williams' theme to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List. The Russian-born composer finished his piano concerto in 1901 after struggling with depression, and dedicated the piece to Nikolai Dahl, his doctor. Its second movement was the inspiration behind Eric Carmen's All By Myself , which was sung by Celine Dion in 1996 and used in the 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary. Sir Karl Jenkins, the Welsh composer, came second with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace – his highest ranking in the chart. The piece came in at number four last year. The song was originally dedicated to victims of the Kosovo war, and Sir Karl said: 'I'm honoured and humbled that The Armed Man has reached its highest ever position in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025, particularly as I look at all the great masters, past and present, that sit on this list with me. 'With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of The Armed Man, I'm delighted that this piece has found resonance globally with so many of you over the years. 'I regret to say that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, but we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen, and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.' Schindler's List was the highest ranking film score this year, coming in at number 11, two places ahead of Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings. The soundtracks for Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter also featured in the Hall of Fame but failed to make the top 20. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart remains the nation's most popular composer, with over 13 entries, followed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who overtook Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. There were a growing number of entries from modern composers this year, including Ludovico Einaudi, the Italian pianist, with five entries. The results were announced by Dan Walker, the presenter of Classic FM Breakfast, who said: 'Every year, the Classic FM Hall Of Fame provides a fascinating insight into the nation's favourite classical music and how those music tastes are changing, and this year – the 30th Hall Of Fame – is no exception. 'It is wonderful that Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece, which appeals across the generations. 'It's also exciting to see the growing popularity of film music, with 37 entries this year, and increased recognition for modern and living composers. Names like Ludovico Einaudi, Phamie Gow, and, of course, the legendary Sir Karl Jenkins are climbing up the chart, showcasing how classical music keeps evolving at the same time as honouring the greats.'
The Independent
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops Classic FM poll for third year
Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 has been voted the nation's favourite piece of classical music for the third consecutive year, according to a new poll. The music topped the annual Classic FM Hall Of Fame poll with 90,000 votes cast by the public, crowning one of Rachmaninov's pieces as the nation's favourite. The Russian-born composer finished his classic concerto in 1901, after he overcame depression, and dedicated the piece to his doctor, Nikolai Dahl, who helped him through that period of his life. Meanwhile, at number two is Welsh composer, Sir Karl Jenkins, with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace marking his highest ranking in the chart. The song was originally dedicated to victims of the war in Kosovo, with Jenkins taking this as an opportunity to highlight ongoing conflicts around the world. Jenkins said: 'I'm honoured and humbled that The Armed Man has reached its highest ever position in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025, particularly as I look at all the great masters, past and present, that sit on this list with me. 'With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of The Armed Man, I look back with great fondness to the premiere in 2000 at the first ever Classic FM Live concert, and I'm delighted that this piece has found resonance globally with so many of you over the years. 'I regret to say that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, but we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen, and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.' The number one film score was voted as the emotional soundtrack to Schindler's List, composed by John Williams, who is also behind the Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter movie themes. The poll found that Mozart remains the nation's most popular composer, followed by Tchaikovsky, who overtook Beethoven and Bach. The chart also saw a growing number of entries for modern composers, including Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi who had five pieces in the new Classic FM Hall Of Fame. The results were announced by Dan Walker, presenter of Classic FM Breakfast, who said: 'Every year, the Classic FM Hall Of Fame provides a fascinating insight into the nation's favourite classical music and how those music tastes are changing, and this year – the 30th Hall Of Fame – is no exception. 'It is wonderful that Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece which appeals across the generations. 'It's also exciting to see the growing popularity of film music, with 37 entries this year, and increased recognition for modern and living composers. Names like Ludovico Einaudi, Phamie Gow, and, of course, the legendary Sir Karl Jenkins are climbing up the chart, showcasing how classical music keeps evolving at the same time as honouring the greats.' The Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025 Top 20: 1. Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No 22. Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace3. Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending4. Vaughan Williams – Fantasia On A Theme5. Elgar – Enigma Variations6. Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No 27. Allegri – Miserere8. Beethoven – Piano Concerto No 5 ('Emperor')9. Beethoven – Symphony No 9 ('Choral')10. Holst – The Planets11. Williams – Schindler's List12. Beethoven – Symphony No 6 ('Pastoral')13. Shore – The Lord Of The Rings14. Morricone – The Mission (includes Gabriel's Oboe)15. Mozart – Requiem16. Ungar – The Ashokan Farewell17. Barber – Adagio For Strings18. Dvorak – Symphony No 9 ('From The New World')19. Faure – Requiem20. Mozart – Clarinet Concerto
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Levit/Budapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer review – edgy Prokofiev baffles and compels
Concerts by Iván Fischer and his Budapest Festival Orchestra are always a little idiosyncratic – remember when playing Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony meant them sharing the RFH stage with a tree? – and this all-Prokofiev programme had its own subtle yet distinctive stamp. It started with the Overture on Hebrew Themes. Fischer had Ákos Ács, the BFO's principal clarinettist, standing out front as if it were a concerto – which it isn't, but the clarinet is the guiding spirit of the piece, leading the klezmer melodies on which it's based. Ács was a mercurial presence – almost dancing with Fischer in the centre, then shuffling over among the strings as if to hide when he wasn't in the musical spotlight, but as engaging and virtuosic as a soloist in the whirling fast music. With Ács back in his seat, Fischer and the pianist Igor Levit took Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 2 and made this strange, colossal work sound more baffling and compelling than ever. The orchestra oozed in underneath Levit's first melody and from then on the first movement's music slipped artfully in and out of focus, the orchestra not so much beautiful as eerily glutinous. Levit built his big solo passage to a peak of forceful intensity; then, in the tiny second movement, he kept the piano motoring deftly on, as if impervious to the orchestra hurtling beside it. The mechanical feeling spread to the third movement, which began with almost inhuman stomping but cradled a little swaying dance at its centre. The last movement brought grand romantic sweep – finally, the stuff big piano concertos are made of, hard won. Levit's encore, Schumann's Der Dichter Spricht, was an introspective and deeply felt contrast, its spell unbroken despite throbs of static from a malfunctioning speaker high above. After the interval, it was all about storytelling. A selection from the ballet Cinderella – Fischer our grandfatherly narrator – found the orchestra on more relaxed form, catching the music's colourful, occasionally edgy charm. This continued into their encore, the Gavotte from the Classical Symphony: a dance that 'starts young and ends old', as Fischer put it. If it ended steadier than it began, it lost none of its spark.
