Kirill Gerstein to Play “Symphony Center Presents” Piano Recital on May 13

Kirill has added a date to his North American tour, performing at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall on May 13th as part of the Chicago Symphony’s Symphony Center Presents piano series. He will be replacing pianist Maurizio Pollini, who has had to cancel his US appearances for health reasons. The program will include Brad Mehldau’s Variations on a Melancholy Theme, a piece specially
commissioned by Kirill, and Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9.

Tickets previously issued for this date will be honored, and they can be purchased at cso.org or by calling 800-223-7114.

Kirill Sits Down With DownBeat to Discuss March 30 Berklee Concert

This Friday, Kirill returns to his alma mater, Berklee College of Music, to perform a program that includes Gershwin’s original 1924 arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue” with guest clarinetist Anat Cohen. He recently sat down with DownBeat Magazine to discuss the Berklee concert, his 2010 Gilmore Award win, his relationships with Brad Mehldau and Chick Corea, and the ways in which he bridges the worlds of classical and jazz performance. To read the full article, click here, and for more information and to buy tickets for the Berklee concert, click here. For those who can’t make it to the concert, it will be streamed live on Concert Window.

Kirill Returns to Berklee College of Music March 30th

On March 30th, Kirill Gerstein returns to his jazz roots at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. The concert includes Gerstein’s premieres of new works by Chick Corea and Brad Mehldau, as well as a performance of the original 1924 jazz band version of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” These new pieces, along with Oliver Knussen’s Ophelia’s Last Dance and a new work by Timothy Andres, were all commissioned by Gerstein using prize money he received after winning the 2010 Gilmore Award.

Joining him are vibraphonist Gary Burton, clarinetist/saxophonist Anat Cohen, cellist/composer Eugene Friesen and a 25-piece ensemble of Berklee students and faculty.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Hear Kirill’s 2010 debut performance with the CSO

In March 2010, Kirill — fresh off his Gilmore Artist Award win — made his debut with the CSO, playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto no. 2 under Charles Dutoit. The CSO has made audio of that performance, described by Classical Music Chicago as “thrilling” and “flawless,” available for free until April 3, 2012. To listen to the stream, click here.