Genuine Elation

Brahms' Piano Concerto No 1 is an astonishing achievement for a composer in his early twenties, a big work in both its time-span and its emotional range. The Hallé Orchestra and conductor Mark Elder pitched us straight into the seething turmoil of the opening, while soloist Paul Lewis had no need for grandstanding to tell us that this is a piece of music with a lot on its mind (Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham UK, 14 October 2014).

While there were clearly reserves of anger for when it mattered, much of the music's eloquence came across in the quieter moments...