FESTIVAL-OPENING

Sergei Rachmaninoff composed such challenging piano parts that not many wanted a work dedicated to them. However, some still had the uninvited pleasure of experiencing it. This was the case for Polish pianist Josef Hofmann with the Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor. Rachmaninoff practised his own compositions for several hours each day, setting himself apart from his contemporaries in terms of technique and artistry. In contrast, Giorgi Gigashvili never practices for long hours because he values the love of the process rather than its duration. This may be why the third piano concerto is so wonderfully suited to him, as he leads it with playful ease. The Konzerthausorchester Berlin, under the direction of Joana Mallwitz, combines the melody and dramatic depth of the Russian composer’s work with Schubert’s eight Symphony (»The Great«). Marked by song-like melodies and deep emotions, it opens the door to the new season.