Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits
Thursday 2 May 2013, Colston Hall, Bristol

By John Packwood, The Bristol Post

“We eagerly awaited the bulk of the programme, the mighty Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto in which the soloist was Sunwook Kim, the much talked about Leeds International Piano winner of 2006. Since then he has built up quite a reputation, and is now considered one of the foremost young pianists of his generation. In an unusual four-movement version it is a huge work of well over 50 minutes. The opening horn call is followed by the piano responding to these themes and the whole movement becomes spacious and majestic and the soloist showed both tenderness and power. The second movement is sparkling and fresh whilst it is difficult to remember such a beautiful rendition of the Adagio where the piano and the cello solo of Jesper Svedberg combined in wonderful harmony. The finale skips along at great speed and at times the soloist was getting so engrossed in the music that he rose from the stool. This was an incredibly mature performance worthy of the tremendous ovation. Both orchestra and soloist are playing at the BBC Proms in August.”