Liszt's Piano Concerto No.2

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and its music director, Domingo Hindoyan, give a concert in their home city, which brims with the colour and flamboyance of Paul Hindemith, Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss.

In the primal darkness, a trumpet sounds – and seconds later, the whole universe is ablaze with light. Richard Strauss wanted Also sprach Zarathustra to tell the 'entire story of humanity'. It’s an epic climax to a concert that begins with the big-band swagger of Hindemith’s Concert Music, plus a showstopping concerto by Franz Liszt – one of the greatest pianists who ever lived – played tonight by former Radio 3 New Generation Artist Mariam Batsashvili.

After the interval, the iconic opening of Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra) will blast out in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. But it doesn't stop there; the expansive Nietzsche-inspired symphonic tone poem is far more than its celebrated beginning. Joys and passions, dances and dirges - the music responds to and encapsulates some of life's highs and lows before melting into the dark of a peaceful night.

Presented by Penny Gore.

Recorded on 30 October 2025

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Paul Hindemith: Concert Music for Strings and Brass
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No.2

INTERVAL

Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Mariam Batsashvili (piano)
Domingo Hindoyan (conductor)

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To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert'.