Born in 1979 in Voronezh, Russia pianist Kirill Gerstein is one of today’s most intriguing young musicians. His masterful technique, musical curiosity, and probing interpretations have led to explorations of classical music and jazz and advanced degrees. In January 2010 Gerstein was named the recipient of the Gilmore Artist Award, only the sixth musician to have been so honored. The Gilmore Artist Award is made to an exceptional artist regardless of age or nationality who possesses broad and profound musicianship, and who together with charisma desires and can sustain a career as a major international concert artist.

Gerstein’s most recent North American engagements include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, and the San Francisco, Baltimore Dallas, Indianapolis, Vancouver, Oregon and Utah Symphonies to name a few.
Born in 1979 in Voronezh, Russia, Mr. Gerstein attended one of the country’s special music schools for gifted children and taught himself to play jazz by listening to his parents’ extensive record collection. He came to the U.S. at 14 to continue his studies in jazz piano as the youngest student ever to attend Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Following his second summer at the Boston University program at Tanglewood, he decided to focus mainly on classical music and moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music.

In addition to the 2010 Gilmore Artist Award, Kirill Gerstein was awarded First Prize at the 2001 Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition in Tel Aviv, received a 2002 Gilmore Young Artist Award, and was chosen as Carnegie Hall’s Rising Star for the 2005-06 season. He became an American citizen in 2003 and is currently a professor of piano at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart, Germany.

Program:

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811
Prélude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande avec Double
Gavotte I/II
Gigue

Ferrucio Busoni (1866-1924)
An die Jugend (To the Youth)
Gigue, Bolero and Variations
(Study after Mozart)

Oliver Knussen (2010) b. 1952
Ophelia’s Last Dance (2010)
(Commissioned for Kirill Gerstein by The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival)

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65

Intermission

Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856)
Carnaval, Op. 9
Preambule – Pierrot – Arlequin - Valse noble – Eusebius -
Florestan – Coquette – Replique – Papillons –
Lettres dansantes – Chiarina – Chopin – Estrella –
Reconnaissance - Pantalon et Columbine -
Valse allemande – Paganini – Aveu – Promenade – Pause –
March des Davidsbundler contre les Philistins

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
(arr.Liszt) (1811-1886)
Selections from Soireés de Vienne

Tickets:

Kirill Gerstein, piano - Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 4:00 pm