Saturday, May 7, 2011, 8:00pm
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
Konstantin Soukhovetski, piano
Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Part of any happy anniversary celebration is a chance to bring back those unique artists whom we love and look forward to hearing again. We are honored to invite Konstantin Soukhovetski back to the Thomas Wolfe stage for a triumphant return, this time with one of the most impressive and difficult concertos in the repertoire. Made famous in the movie Shine, Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto is the epitome of all that we love about Russian music: great melodies, overwhelming keyboard virtuosity, and dazzling climaxes that tear the roof off the house. While Konstantin’s star still rises, both in the musical and cinematic worlds, we are lucky to be able to carve out an opportunity to welcome him back to Asheville. We will cap our season with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, a piece that will surely showcase how far we have come as an ensemble. With its technicolor orchestration by Ravel, Pictures is a true test of any orchestra’s mettle, and we are proud to bring it back as a showcase.
