YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY Russian pianist to perform at season-opening concert

The symphony will continue its tradition of beginning with the national anthem.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, conducted by music director Isaiah Jackson, will open its 80th season at Powers Auditorium Saturday.
Two large works will be performed: Rachmaninoff's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, featuring soloist Olga Kern, and Brahms' Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73.
Rachmaninoff wrote his third piano concerto in 1909, while still in Russia, but it was actually premiered by the Symphony Society of New York at the New Theatre, Nov. 28, 1909, under the direction of Walter Damrosch with the composer as soloist. On January 16, 1910, Rachmaninoff performed it again at Carnegie Hall, this time with Gustav Mahler conducting the New York Philharmonic. Vladimir Horowitz first recorded it in 1930.
"Rachmaninoff is certainly one of the great 20th century composers," said Jackson. "I admire him for his courage to write beautiful, heartfelt music at a time when music itself seemed to be going in a different direction. This concerto is filled with beautiful melodies as well as high drama. And I am very pleased to be working with Olga Kern, a distinguished colleague."
"This is certainly a popular piece with audiences here and worldwide," added Patricia Syak, executive director of the symphony. "And we are very excited to have Olga Kern with us, performing the work that won her the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the first woman in 30 years to win that award. This piece requires great technical skill. And it is wonderful to have this Russian-born pianist performing this very Russian work. Kern's grandmother sang with Rachmaninoff, so there is a historical connection."
Brahms symphony
Brahms wrote his second symphony in 1877, and it was premiered Dec. 30 that year by the Vienna Philharmonic.
"Brahms struggled for 20 years to write his first symphony," said Syak. "Then this one followed shortly after and was completed within a year. It is much sunnier, brighter. It required a lot of courage from Brahms to write symphonies, since he had spent so much time writing piano music. The first time it was performed, the audience fell in love with the third movement, and demanded that it be repeated before continuing with the fourth. The audience was so taken by this work."
"I love the Brahms second symphony," Jackson added. "He was laboring in Beethoven's shadow, and felt he at least had to rival the master. As he struggled with issues in his first symphony, ideas were already germinating in his brain for his second. This symphony is happy, tuneful, ultimately triumphant. I have lived with and performed both the Brahms and Rachmaninoff for over three decades, both here and abroad."
Jackson also said he looks forward to conducting "The Star Spangled Banner," as is the tradition with each season's opening concert. "It is wonderful to hear over 2,000 people raising their voices in chorus," he said.
Dinner
In addition, the Youngstown Symphony Guild will host a pre-concert dinner, which begins at 5:30, open to all ticket holders.
The Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra String Quartet will perform, and the symphony's principal trumpeter, Christopher Crummel, will perform on the herald trumpet, complete with a banner bearing the emblem of the symphony, to welcome the audience into the auditorium.
Cost for the dinner is $40. For more information, or to purchase tickets for the performance and dinner, call (330) 744-0264, or go to www.youngstownsymphony.com.