January 14, 2023

Piano concerti are always a big part of our repertoire in the orchestral world. It is common for us as conductors to do a few every season, but this is proving to be quite a banner season for me in terms of the piano concerto repertoire. Last night’s concert in Lansing has given me cause for reflection, and I just want to take a moment to share some gratitude for some especially wonderful opportunities that have come my way this season.
 
For starters, I have now done both of the Brahms concerti in one season. I think that’s a first for me. It’s always difficult with absolutes in art, but I would not hesitate to say that the Brahms Second Concerto is among the greatest works of music ever written (that’s a big list btw), and it is the greatest piano concerto ever written to date…there, I’ve said it. (His first isn’t too shabby either).
 
I have also had the opportunity to do two different concerti with the wonderful pianist Jon Nakamatsu this season. We did Tchaikovsky last fall in Baton Rouge, and we just did the Brahms Second last night, which he played exquisitely. Jon and I have known each other a long time, and it is always a great pleasure to share the stage with him. Speaking of great pianists, the Brahms First Concerto was in November with Emanuel Ax…also wonderful experience as I mentioned at the time.
 
In March I will head to New Orleans to conduct the Louisiana Philharmonic for the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans Concerto Showcase, a concert featuring winners of the New Orleans international Piano Competition. On that program, Mozart Concerto 23, Ravel G Major and Tchaikovsky… again!
 
This on top of two great piano experiences this past summer at Chautauqua one with Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán playing his own music and Chengcheng Yao playing the magnificent Bartok Second piano concerto.
 
Lastly, in June I’ll conduct the world premiere of Patrick Harlin’s new piano concert he calls “The Fourth Pedal” with Clayton Stephenson and the Lansing Symphony. Bringing a new work into the piano concerto realm seems a fitting closing to this rather epic season.
 
Along with Jon’s performance of Brahms Friday, the LSO also played the First Symphony of Adolphus Hailstork and Strauss’s Serenade for Winds. It was a beautiful program, and the orchestra sounded wonderful. We also were pleased to see a very nice audience for this concert.
 
Next up for me is LSO’s “Winterlude”…a chamber orchestra program of Bach and Mendelssohn in Lansing’s beautiful St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Before that though, I will be in the audience for LSO @ the Robin, “Made in Michigan”, a concert of chamber music of our time, all by composers who have lived in Michigan.
 
NEXT UP
 
Lansing Symphony Orchestra
“WINTERLUDE”
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Lansing, Michigan
February 5, 2023
 
Katy Green, soprano, Colleen Chester, Alto, Dalan Guthrie, Tenor, Michael Carter, Baritone
 
FELIX MENDELSSOHN. Sinfonia No. 10 in b minor
 
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Cantata No. 106: Gottes Zeit is die all Zeit (Actus Tragicus)
 
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Cantata No. 19: Der Herr Denket an us BWV 196 (The Wedding Cantata)
 
FELIX MENDELSSOHN Sinfonia No. 7 in d minor
 
 
#MASNO #jonnakamatsu #lansingsymphony #patrickharlin #claytonstephenson #emanuelax