Martha Argerich, Akane Sakai, Gregory Ahss, Samuel Niederhauser, Mirabelle Kajenjeri, and Martina Meola perform Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, and a world premiere by William Kentridge

The festival Le Piano Symphonique returns to Lucerne for its fifth edition, once again spearheaded by the great Martha Argerich as pianiste associée alongside a who's-who of contemporary pianists! This year's spectacular closing concert begins with Beethoven's Piano Trio No. 13 in D, a transcription of the effervescent Symphony No. 2, performed by pianist Akane Sakai, violinist Gregory Ahss, and cellist Samuel Niederhauser. Next up is the world premiere of William Kentridge's film O Quickly Disappearing Photograph, a festival commission about Luigi Dallapiccola's Quaderno musicale di Annalibera, which Mirabelle Kajenjeri performs here. After 13-year-old phenom Martina Meola dazzles with a supremely assured rendition of Chopin's mighty Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Martha Argerich takes the stage for Beethoven's delightful Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat alongside the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and Gregory Ahss. Finally, Argerich and the marvelous Akane Sakai close out the program with Debussy's elegant and melodic Petite Suite for piano four-hands.

Photo © Luzerner Sinfonieorchester / Philipp Schmidli