In 2001, Olga Kern was the first woman in thirty years to win the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Here she joins the National Philharmonic of Russia for an all-Russian program of audience favorites. Conductor Vladimir Spivakov leads this virtuosic ensemble made up of the country’s finest musicians.

Welcome our new Associate Conductor, who leads Brahms's most autumnal symphony. Its burnished sounds balance the pyrotechnics of the Liszt Piano Concerto, and of Ravel's dreamlike ballet score. The soloist is Yundi Li, who in 2000 became the youngest winner ever of the prestigious Warsaw Chopin Competition.

Note: Portions of this program are included on the Mar 16 Friday 6.5 concert.