SLSO to perform Scriabin’s only concerto with pianist Kirill Gerstein, debut of conductor Matthias Pintscher

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Pianist Kirill Gerstein returns for his sixth appearance with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to perform Scriabin’s only concerto in a concert conducted by Matthias Pintscher. The concerts are Friday, February 1, and Saturday, February 2, at 8:00 pm.

Gerstein, praised for his “poetic sensitivity to match the technical fireworks” (Boston Classical Review), performs the SLSO premiere of Scriabin’s Piano Concerto. Known for its romantic lyricism, the piece is one of 12 premiering with the SLSO during its 139th season. Gerstein and the SLSO enjoy a close relationship, collaborating on The Gershwin Moment (released 2018). Featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Piano Concerto in F major, Texas Public Radio named the album a “top pick” of classical albums in October 2018.

Pintscher makes his SLSO debut on the program, one of five conductors new to the SLSO in the 2018/2019 season. He is the Music Director of the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the world’s leading contemporary music ensemble, and was recently named the Music Director of the 2020 Ojai Music Festival.

The concert opens with Rachmaninoff’s The Isle of the Dead, a churning symphonic poem based on a painting by the Swiss artist Arnold Böcklin depicting a lonely island surrounded by dark waters.

Closing the concert is Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, “Scottish.” Inspired by the overgrown ruins of a countryside chapel, the symphony evokes the atmosphere of pastoral Scotland.

Friday, February 1, 2019, 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 8:00 pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano

RACHMANINOFF The Isle of the Dead
SCRIABIN Piano Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish”

Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 7:00 pm Friday and Saturday in the auditorium. This weekend, the conversations are hosted by SLSO Creative Partner Tim Munro.

Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at 8:00 pm for the live broadcast of the performance, along with interviews of Pintscher and Gerstein during intermission. Listen on air (90.7 FM KWMU) or online.

The 18/19 SLSO Classical Season is presented by World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation and runs through May 12, 2019.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at www.slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700.

Close