Beethoven and Prokofiev

‘Revolutionary!’ Emperor Franz II is said to have exclaimed when Beethoven’s First Symphony was performed for the first time. The same excitement arose a century later at the premiere of Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto – with the 22-year-old composer himself as soloist, following Beethoven’s example. Now, more than a hundred years on, both works have lost none of their youthful power to overwhelm. Just listen.