Rachmaninoff Performed by Olga Kern

Friday, February 3, 2017 7:30PM — Saturday, February 4, 2017 7:30PM

Andrew Litton, conductor
Olga Kern, piano

RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60, "Leningrad"

Colorado Symphony Artistic Advisor Andrew Litton conducts piano sensation Olga Kern, known as a master of Rachmaninoff. For her 2017 return to Denver, she takes on Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 concluding the all-Russian program. The imposing piece is one of the composer's best-known works, a 75-minute orchestral commentary on the German siege of Leningrad in World War II. After the invasion theme of the first movement, the score moves into a requiem dirge, followed by an even more sorrowful phase -- "After the requiem comes an even more tragic episode," Shostakovich explained. "I do not know how to characterize that music" -- and a thunderous finale that's anything but joyous.

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Saturday, February 4, 2017 7:30PM

Boettcher Concert Hall

Rachmaninoff Performed by Olga Kern

Andrew Litton, conductor
Olga Kern, piano

RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60, "Leningrad"

PROGRAM NOTES

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Prelude Information
Don't forget to arrive early for the prelude at 6:30 pm hosted by classical music author and historian, Betsy Schwarm. Preludes are insightful discussions that take place before each Masterworks performance and are included with your concert ticket. For more information about the different types of preludes, CLICK HERE.

Musician picks!
Why some of our very own think you should see this performance!

Courtney Hershey-Bress - Principal Harp
"Olga Kern returns to play another Rachmaninoff piano concerto which will be fabulous. Every time she comes to Denver she plays so beautifully and looks amazing too! If Olga is here and there is no harp part on her piece, you will always find me in the audience listening. I am excited to play Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony which I have not performed since college. This will be a wonderful night!"

Julie Thornton – Piccolo and Flute
"The first concert that jumps out at me for the Colorado Symphony’s 2016/17 Season is Shostakovich 7. Shostakovich is a piccolo players dream. He writes lots of beautiful and challenging solos and it is so fun to be the Piccolo soaring on top of the orchestral sound."

Phillip Hembree – Assistant Principal Trumpet
"Russian composers produced some of the most expressive music ever written, and the combination of Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich makes for a wonderful evening. I recommend reading a historical book about the siege of Leningrad before attending the concert, since Shostakovich uses his Seventh Symphony to reflect on the somber events of the war. The symphony is truly spellbinding."

Tristan Rennie - Assistant Principal Basson
"While Shostakovich's 9th Symphony has the most famous of his bassoon solos, his 7th Symphony has an even longer and more challenging solo for the bassoon!"

Susan Rockey Bowles - Cello
"Rachmaninoff and Olga Kern - Olga and Rachmaninoff are a perfect pairing and Shostakovich 7 nicely rounds out the program."

2016/17 Season Colorado Symphony Sponsors

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