(Right: Olga Kern: “One of the great artists of her generation”)
Revered pianist Olga Kern performs Tchaikovsky at the third concert of the KZN Philharmonic Spring Season.
Thursday is a red-letter day for KZN music lovers as world-renowned Russian / American classical pianist Olga Kern, returns to Durban to perform Tchaikovsky for the third and final concert in the KZN Philharmonic Spring Season on November 14 at 19h00.
Pianist Olga Kern is widely recognized as one of the great artists of her generation, captivating both audiences and critics across the globe. She has established herself as one of the leading pianists of her generation.
Born into a family of musicians, she jumpstarted her U.S. career with her historic Gold Medal win at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, as the first woman to do so in more than 50 years.
(Left: Rory Macdonald - credit-Robin-Clewley)
Under the baton of Scottish conductor, Rory Macdonald, Kern will perform the evening’s centre piece - Tchaikovsky Concerto, Piano, No.1, Op.23, B-flat minor - one of the most popular of Tchaikovsky's compositions and among the best known of all piano concerti, famed for the sequence of pounding chords with which the soloist’s part launches the first movement.
Tchaikovsky’s huge and impressive
body of work has always had great appeal by virtue of its tuneful, open-hearted
melodies, impressive harmonies, and colourful, picturesque orchestration, all
of which evoke a profound emotional response.
A dynamic presence in both the opera house and concert hall,
Rory Macdonald’s conducting has been described as combining intellectual rigour
with passionate engagement, and a notably wide repertoire. Born in Stirling,
Scotland, he attended Douglas Academy in Milngavie, Glasgow, and went on to
read Music at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University. He studied
violin and piano and began conducting aged 16.
The programme opens with the overture of Gioachino Rossini’s final Italian opera, Semiramide; and closes with the three-movement work for orchestra by Jean Sibelius Symphony No.3, Op.52, C Major.
For those who prefer not to self-drive to town for the evening KZN Symphony Season concerts, there are buses from Caister Lodge; Westville Senior; St Agnes Kloof; Grace Church Umhlanga. Book through Quicket / subscribers’ book through KZNPO offices.
KZN Philharmonic Season tickets, and bookings for individual concerts, are available at Quicket outlets.
For more information call 031-369 9438, email bookings@kznphil.org.za or visit www.kznphil.org.za
Or click on the KZNPO’s advert at the top right-hand side of this article.
NB: Patrons, please
note there are regrettably no public morning rehearsals for this season.
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