This is a truly wonderful concert and we could wax lyrical about each and every work on the programme. However, we’ve chosen instead to focus on the most spectacular work of the evening – Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. The composer literally tailored this work for a pianist who had lost his right hand during the First World War. It is a very effective showpiece giving the impression it was written for four hands. Very few musicians are prepared to risk performing this extremely difficult work live. The fact that Kyrill Gerstein has included it in his programme says more about technique and daring than all the words in the world … We need say no more about him!

Kirill Gerstein Piano
François-Xavier Roth Conductor
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden and Freiburg

Richard Strauss
Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Op. 28  (16’)
Maurice Ravel
Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D Major (18’)
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Igor Stravinsky
Petrushka (Burlesque in 4 scenes) (35’)

Finishing time approx.: 9 pm