concerto

The world's only professional one-handed concert pianist, Nicholas McCarthy, makes his Proms debut, playing a concerto originally written for Paul Wittgenstein, after he lost his right arm during World War One.

Schnittke praised the work as "perhaps the most important violin concerto of the 20th Century".

“I hope you can understand why Ukrainians cannot lose the war. A nation with such music cannot simply lose,” he said before welcoming Wasserman, who delivered a dramatic and sweet interpretation of the Grieg concerto.

There it was, big and bold, from the first firm notes of Brahms’ concerto to the searing, earth-shattering sunrise grandeur of the finale of “Gurrelieder.”

The concluding work turned out to be George Lewis’ “Lonnie and Lonie,” a double concerto that found common musical ground for two uncles with opposing views of the world.