For Beethoven, C minor was the key of high drama. It was the sound of struggle, defiance and determination – and nowhere is that more apparent than in his Piano Concerto No.3.

Written as Beethoven confronted the reality of his worsening hearing loss, the concerto marks a turning point in his career. The influence of Mozart is still there, but Beethoven’s darker and bolder voice own voice is beginning to emerge. Kristian Bezuidenhout joins us for this landmark work.

A generation later, Mendelssohn found inspiration not in personal turmoil but in travel. Packing his bags and donning his Birkenstocks, Mendelssohn set off on a grand tour of Italy where he documented his journey through sketches of music that would ultimately emerge as his Symphony No.4, AKA the ‘Italian’ Symphony. Filled with dance and folk references, Mendelssohn’s musical postcard transports us to Southern Europe with one of his best-loved compositions.