Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with Maria João Pires

World-renowned pianist Maria João Pires plays Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto

‘Maria João Pires is unparalleled in Beethoven,’ wrote newspaper NRC Handelsblad almost ten years ago. Every performance this exceptional pianist gives is a unique gift to her audience, because she has been saying for a few years now that it is time for her to stop. The last time she was a guest with the Netherlands Philharmonic, she made an impression with her favourite composer Mozart. Now she is playing Beethoven's lyrical and sometimes dark Third Piano Concerto . In her hands, the fiery finale sounds more compelling than ever.

Dvořák's Eighth Symphony

Of all the symphonies Dvořák wrote, the Eighth Symphony is the most energetic and cheerful. ‘The melodies flow naturally from my pen,’ said Dvořák when he was working on this symphony in the summer of 1889. He had retreated to his summer house on the Czech estate of Vysoká and the idyllic country life inspired him enormously. After a beautiful introduction by the cellos, a mischievous little bird introduces the cheerful character of this symphony, which is full of positive energy.