Rach 3
Join us for a concert that celebrates extraordinary creative forces joining together. Of all the great piano concertos ever written, Rachmaninoff’s Third tops the list. Among pianists, Jeremy Denk is regarded as one of the most outstanding; and amid American conductors, Hugh Wolff ranks among the most gifted. Along with your CSO, this promises to be a remarkable performance.
Rach 3 Featuring Pianist Jeremy Denk
The New York Times deemed Jeremy Denk “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs.” A winner of both the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize and the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, Denk has made his mark internationally as an acclaimed recording artist and celebrated guest with the premiere orchestras of the world. He returns to Charleston on this occasion to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Wolff, a French-born American conductor with extensive global experience, will lead the orchestra as guest conductor.
Referred to as “Rach 3,” this stands as one of the most demanding piano concertos for soloists — unsurprisingly, since the composer himself was a distinguished pianist— and a favorite among audiences for its memorable melodies and lush Romantic sound. Likewise, Symphonic Dances exudes similar qualities with its sweeping themes and, as its name implies, dances that meander throughout the orchestra. As in several of his compositions, Rachmaninoff weaves in the Dies irae (Day of Wrath) motif from the Requiem Mass in his Symphonic Dances. Written in 1940, when the composer was living in the U.S., it would be the final major orchestral work of Rachmaninoff’s life.
MORE ON THE MUSIC & ARTISTS:
- A man of many talents, Jeremy Denk’s New York Times bestselling memoir Every Good Boy Does Fine was published in 2022.
- Hugh Wolff has been influenced and taught by many of the orchestral world’s top names: he was assistant to Mstislav Rostropovich at the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.; he studied piano with Leon Fleisher; learned composition from famous French composer Olivier Messiaen; and studied conducting with legendary conductor Charles Bruck.
Please note: Thursday’s performance is part of the Masterworks Friday package and Friday’s performance is part of the Masterworks Saturday package.
PROGRAM
Trevor Weston
Subwaves
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
ARTISTS
Hugh Wolff, conductor
Jeremy Denk, piano
