Yuri Temirkanov conducts Rossini, Brahms and Elgar – With Denis Matsuev

In 1998, at the age of 23, Denis Matsuev won the first prize of the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, which led him to success and boosted his career. Ever since, the pianist has been keeping on impressing his audience with virtuoso, and powerful performances. He is today once again at the side of an iconic figure of Russian music, Yuri Temirkanov.

As the music director and chief conductor of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, he will kick off this great evening with the explosive Overture from Rossini's Barber of Seville, 1854.

In contrast, this will be followed by Brahms’ deeply romantic Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15 . Brahms composed this concerto in 1854 after his master’s suicide attempt, Schumann, who had encouraged him to play orchestral music, but Schumann never heard it, as he died during the writing. At that time, particularly due to its length, the concerto had a lacklustre success and was truly acclaimed thanks to Clara Schumann’s interpretation, the composer’s widow.

Finally, the enigmatic Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar, composed between 1898 and 1899, draws the musical portraits of his close personal connections. It should beautifully crown this 5th edition of the Annecy Classic Music Festival.

Picture: Yuri Temirkanov © Yannick Perrin – Denis Matsuev © DR.