Echoes of the Masters

Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
Ludwig van Beethoven: “Piano Concerto No. 0” in E-flat major, WoO 4
Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D 485

Zhen Chen, Piano
Thomas Rösner, Conductor

Marking the beginning of the Beethoven Year 2027, this programme features a remarkable rarity: a piano concerto composed by the young Ludwig van Beethoven. He composed a complete Piano Concerto in E-flat major in Bonn at the age of just 13. Only the piano score has survived, and the work was not published until after his death. The concerto offers a fascinating glimpse into the young Beethoven’s musical development, revealing the influence of the sons of Johann Sebastian Bach and at the same time showcases his remarkable virtuosity.
Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major is also a work of youth, composed when he was only 19. Mozart’s influence can clearly be heard, yet the symphony already bears Schubert’s unmistakable Romantic voice, with its expressive depth and melodic beauty.
Maurice Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin is a double homage: both to friends who lost their lives in the First World War and to the dance forms of the Baroque era, which Ravel brings vividly to life through his characteristically colourful orchestration. This intimate work sets the tone for a programme rich in musical connections across different eras.

Photo: Zhen Chen © Kaupo Kikkas