Franz Liszt ： Piano Concerto No.2 in A-Dur, S.125/R.456 H5

Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 unfolds as one large, continuous span, with the solo piano and orchestra engaging in an ongoing dialogue. Its character shifts from calm, songful passages to sections that highlight brilliant virtuosity and then to more tense, dramatic developments, with contrasting moods organically connected throughout. The piano writing calls for delicate exchanges of melody, clear articulation of figurations, and brilliant passages that make use of a wide register. Key performance considerations include bringing out the contrasts between sections while preserving the sense of the work as a unified whole, as well as carefully coordinating volume and phrasing with the orchestra.