Thursday 19 February 2026 | 19:30 |
Rachmaninov, Sergei (1873-1943) | Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, Op.30 | |
Bruckner, Anton (1824-1896) | Symphony no. 6 in A major, WAB 106 |
Jukka-Pekka Saraste | Conductor |
Francesco Piemontesi | Piano |
Iceland Symphony Orchestra |
Piano Concerto no. 3 by Rachmaninov is one of the most famous piano concertos in history and a favourite of music lovers around the world. It is considered one of the most challenging concertos a pianist can undertake, both technically and emotionally. The concert is loaded with breathtaking poetic expression, spectacular climaxes, and near-impossible challenges in performance technique. Swiss-Italian pianist Francesco Piemontesi has become well-known in the concert scene around the world and has worked with many of the leading orchestras and conductors of our time. One of them is the conductor of this concert, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, principal conductor of the prestigious Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Saraste has conducted the major orchestras of the Western world, and his interpretation of late Romantic orchestral works has attracted attention wherever he goes. Bruckner's Sixth Symphony is considered unique in Bruckner's oeuvre for its emotional elaboration of themes, varied tonal progressions, and complex rhythms.
