Kirill Gerstein and András Schiff teamed up this week for an extraordinary, and uprecedented, two concert presentation of the works of Ferruccio Busoni at the Salzburger Festspiele. The performances included works such as the Fantasia Contrappuntistica for two pianos, described by the Salzburger Nachrichten of 11. Aug 2008 as “a piano work of such powerful dimension that the composer prepared an architectural sketch to demonstrate the monumental nature of the movements as a whole”.

Kirill Gerstein and András Schiff teamed up this week for an extraordinary, and uprecedented, two concert presentation of the works of Ferruccio Busoni at the Salzburger Festspiele.

The performances, which took place in the famed Mozarteum, included works such as the Fantasia Contrappuntistica for two pianos, described by the Salzburger Nachrichten of 11. Aug 2008 as “a piano work of such powerful dimension that the composer prepared an architectural sketch to demonstrate the monumental nature of the movements as a whole”.

The Salzburger Nachrichten continued that both Mr Schiff and Mr Gerstein “enlightened the difficult-to-grasp and thus seldom performed work with precision, and with loving detail”. Read the complete review of the first concert here:

http://www.salzburg.com/nwas/archiv_artikel.php?xm=3467021&res=0

The Vienna “Die Presse” also from 11. Aug 2008 commented that the pairing Schiff/Gerstein in the Fantasia Contrappuntistica “were able to expose the internal architecture of the Fantasie with great virtuosity and in perfect collaboration”.

For the complete review, see here:

http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/klassik/405151/index.do?from=suche.intern.portal

In the second concert, Gerstein was in top form in three solo works including Busoni’s Sonatina Seconda per pianoforte, Schoenberg’s Drei Klavierstuecke op 11 and the Schoenberg Klavierstueck op 11 in the Busoni arrangement. Again, the Salzburger Nachrichten praised Gerstein for his “enlightened” performance, continuing that “Der junge russische Pianist gilt als Zukunftshoffnung” - Gerstein is hope for the future. Read the complete review here:

http://www.salzburg.com/nwas/archiv_artikel.php?xm=3467309&res=0

Congratulations on a spicy Salzburg collaboration and here is to many more to come!

Pianist Kirill Gerstein made his Cleveland Orchestra debut over the weekend performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 which, according to the local paper, was the “night’s big work…a model of Romantic effusion and formidable challenges”. The Cleveland Plain Dealer continued that “Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein, in his debut with the orchestra, proved to be a bold, sensitive soloist with an ability to send piano sound vibrantly into the summer night.”

Pianist Kirill Gerstein made his Cleveland Orchestra debut over the weekend performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 which, according to the local paper, was the “night’s big work…a model of Romantic effusion and formidable challenges”. The Cleveland Plain Dealer continued that “Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein, in his debut with the orchestra, proved to be a bold, sensitive soloist with an ability to send piano sound vibrantly into the summer night.”

The Plain Dealer critic, Donald Rosenberg, pointed out that “Rachmaninoff ladles so much orchestral soup into the concerto tureen that a pianist could easily be swallowed whole. Gerstein’s clarity of attack, judicious use of the pedal and close regard for his colleagues ensured that most of the keyboard details would be heard. The pianist made the lyrical material sing, and his fingers appeared to be unstoppable amid Rachmaninoff’s torrent of notes” (read the complete review here).

The review in the regional Beacon Journal (click here for more) commented that “Gerstein went over big with the audience, who rewarded his performance with a standing ovation and cheers”.

Congrats, Kirill, for the sensational performance of this mammoth concerto and for your great success with the Cleveland Orchestra!

Programme:
TBA

Programme:
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G

Programme:
RACHMANINOFF Paganini Variations

Programme:
SKRJABIN Opus 65
TSCHAIKOWSKY Trio

Programme:
HOLLIGER Lieder ohne Worte

Programme
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto 3