VFO / VASILY PETRENKO / ALEXANDRE KANTOROW
To close the 2026 edition, a concert of dazzling grandeur: the Concerto that earned Alexandre Kantorow the First Prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition, followed by the Suite from the most beloved Russian ballet of the 20th century — Romeo and Juliet — conducted by Vassily Petrenko, one of the foremost Tchaikovsky specialists.
Programme
ALEXEY SHOR (1970-)
Suite after Crystal Palace
PIOTR ILYITCH TCHAÏKOVSKI (1840-1893)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major Op. 44
Interval
SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
Romeo and Juliet, excerpts from Suites No. 1 and 2 Op. 64
Kantorow plays Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43
‘Romeo and Juliet’ almost never saw the light of day. Rejected by the two great Russian ballet authorities (the Bolshoi, which considered the work unworthy of being performed, and the Mariinsky, which rejected the argument), it has since enjoyed a veritable renaissance thanks to the three Suites that the composer wrote from it, as well as the variety of choreographies (from Lavrovsky’s original to Nureyev’s French version) that today do justice to the score’s rhythmic inventiveness and melodic genius.
The fate of Tchaikovsky’s Second Concerto was quite different: initially destined for great success, it was ultimately met with a lukewarm reception and never managed to emerge from the shadow of the first. It has to be said that its symphonic dimensions and the complexity of its developments discouraged many pianists. It took courage for Alexandre Kantorow to defend this work in front of the jury of the competition dedicated to the composer. But the success was beyond measure, propelling the young pianist onto all the major international stages.