St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to perform Scriabin's only concerto with pianist Kirill Gerstein and the debut of conductor Matthias Pintscher
February 1-2 concert includes Rachmaninoff's The Isle of the Dead, Scriabin's Piano Concerto, and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, "Scottish"
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(January 3, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Pianist Kirill Gerstein returns for his sixth appearance with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to perform Scriabin's only concerto in a concert conducted by Matthias Pintscher. The concerts are Friday, February 1, and Saturday, February 2, at 8:00pm.
Gerstein (pictured left, above), praised for his "poetic sensitivity to match the technical fireworks" (Boston Classical Review), performs the SLSO premiere of Scriabin's Piano Concerto. Known for its romantic lyricism, the piece is one of 12 premiering with the SLSO during its 139th season. Gerstein and the SLSO enjoy a close relationship, collaborating on The Gershwin Moment (released 2018). Featuring Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Piano Concerto in F major, Texas Public Radio named the album a "top pick" of classical albums in October 2018.
Pintscher (pictured left, below) makes his SLSO debut on the program, one of five conductors new to the SLSO in the 2018/2019 season. He is the Music Director of the Ensemble 
Intercontemporain, the world's leading contemporary music ensemble, and was recently named the Music Director of the 2020 Ojai Music Festival.
The concert opens with Rachmaninoff's The Isle of the Dead, a churning symphonic poem based on a painting by the Swiss artist Arnold Böcklin depicting a lonely island surrounded by dark waters.
Closing the concert is Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, "Scottish." Inspired by the overgrown ruins of a countryside chapel, the symphony evokes the atmosphere of pastoral Scotland.
Friday, February 1, 2019, 8:00pm
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 8:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO
Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano
RACHMANINOFF The Isle of the Dead
SCRIABIN Piano Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, "Scottish"
Audiences can attend the free Pre-Concert Conversation at 7:00pm Friday and Saturday in the auditorium. This weekend, the conversations are hosted by SLSO Creative Partner Tim Munro.
Tune in to St. Louis Public Radio on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at 8:00pm for the live broadcast of the performance, along with interviews of Pintscher and Gerstein during intermission. Listen on air (90.7 FM KWMU) or online (http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php).
The 18/19 SLSO Classical Season is presented by World Wide Technology and the Steward Family Foundation and runs through May 12, 2019.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at www.slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700.
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as one of today's most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 139th year with the 2018/2019 season. Widely considered one of the world's finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections – all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their partnership.
The Grammy Award–winning SLSO's impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years.
Today, the SLSO builds on the institution's current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.
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