Prizefight Version Unveiled By Houston symphony
A clever campaign is what RachFest is really showing out to be, Houston symphony turned out to be successful. The planned promotional advertisement showing boxing match did the trick. Already excitement is in the air as Jones Hall will host the performance of renowned composer Sergei Rachnaninoff versus the pianist Kirill Gerstein. It is perceived to be the biggest showdown of the entire century.
Distinguished leader and Russian composer, Gerstein, 32, will be bravely performing piano concerts to play four of his bravura concertos. Massive concert will start on Thursday followed by shows on Saturday and Sunday. The following weekend will be the highlight as he plays first and his third concertos on same program, which is on 13-15 January. The forthcoming week will be the final show events on 19,21 and 22 Jan where he concludes this RachFest with concerto 2. It is nothing like the Houston symphony chorus.
Houston symphony orchestra will support the pianist for the shows. Rachmaninoff was born in imperial Russia, but he has adapted a romantic style to all his compositions and the critics responded very negatively of his works. The artist although a legend, but even six decades post his death, he has to contend for a title.
Hans Graf the music director at Houston symphony has put forth full support in favor of the artist. He says that, the artists who write and play have a difficult time getting the apt recognition. Moreover Rachmaninoff was a pianist but he travelled across the world leaving Russia in 1917 for concertizing. This is a strong reason he has more acclaim as a pianist than a composer.
RachFest is the tribute to this great pianist and composer. First program is the Symphonic Dances whereas the second one is poem, Isle of dead, whereas third one is Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise. Certainly special pianist is the need of such concerts and Kirill Gerstein justifies the cause better.
All these are excellent compositions and they are in their strong original structures, so playing them at Houston symphony will be a challenge. Moreover RachFest is aiming at bringing out all winners unlike the prizefight.
Keep your dates booked for the masterpieces being unveiled at the Houston symphony, if music is what keeps you alive!