Bramwell Tovey

Power and Beauty: Tchaikovsky and Beethoven is a two-evening concert series that will feature Bramwell Tovey conducting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, plus guest pianist Freddy Kempf. There will be a trio of pieces performed: Gorecki’s Three Pieces in an Old Style, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral.

No one beats Tchaikovsky for sheer musical thrills, and his Piano Concerto No. 1 is perhaps the most thrilling work of all. Sensational pianist Freddy Kempf is up to the challenge, and his performance of this amazing concerto will blow you away. And Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony No. 6 is, simply put, one of the most beautiful symphonies ever written.

Freddy Kempf photo by Neda Navaee
[Freddy Kempf photo by Neda Navaee]

London-born Kempf is highly regarded as one of today’s most successful pianists, who’s performed in front of sold out audiences worldwide. He’s not afraid to take risks in his explosive style while remaining a serious, profoundly musical talent. Freddy Kempf began his career with piano lessons at age four. A BBC Young Musician of the Year award was bestowed upon Kempf in 1992, providing him with major national recognition. His international career was firmly planted following his third place award in the 1998 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow.

In fact, that very competition caused an outcry in the Russian press as to why he wasn’t awarded first prize. Protests resulted in his unofficial title of “the hero of the competition“, crowning him the darling of Russian audiences ever since. From opening the Shanghai Concert Hall in October 2004 to recording Chopin’s Etudes for DVD in a chateau outside of Paris for BBC Television, Kempf is certainly on everybody’s musical radar, or should be after these two performances.

Power and Beauty
Venue: Orpheum Theatre, 884 Granville Street, Vancouver
Dates: Saturday, January 14, and Monday, January 16, 8 pm
Tickets: Available online or by phoning VSO Customer Service at 604.876.3434.

For program notes on this concert series, please visit its dedicated page online.

Bramwell Tovey photo provided by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

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