Jia Liu - Soloist 'Brahm's Piano Concerto No.2

What are your thoughts on returning to perform the monumental concerto
Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the DSO?

I really enjoyed performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 with the DSO last time. The orchestra has such a warm character and a welcoming, collaborative spirit. The Dunedin audience was also incredibly responsive and engaged, which made the experience even more memorable. This time, I have the privilege of working with Maestro James Judd, a musician I truly admire.

This piece is more than just a concerto; it is symphonic in both scale and depth, a vast musical journey where the piano and orchestra are equal partners in dialogue. Every movement offers something unique: the nobility and expansiveness of the first, the stormy intensity of the second, the tender introspection of the third with its beautiful cello solo, and the joyful exuberance of the finale. Playing this concerto feels like embarking on an epic journey, one that demands the full range of expressive and technical capabilities. I’m very much looking forward to making music with the DSO again and sharing this powerful work with the wonderful Dunedin audience.