Yunchan Lim, Martha Argerich & Mikhail Pletnev

Description

Martha Argerich and Yunchan Lim: Piano Art Across Generations Le Piano Symphonique combines chamber music and orchestral works in its double concerts. On this evening, three world-class pianists from different generations come together: Martha Argerich and Mikhail Pletnev open the concert on two grand pianos with Schubert's Unfinished Symphony in Pletnev's transcription for two pianos. The soloist of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra is Yunchan Lim – one of the most notable young pianists of our time. Judging by the worldwide enthusiasm of critics and audiences, two extraordinary pianistic phenomena meet on this evening. The status of a pianist of the century belongs first to Martha Argerich. In her second appearance at the piano festival, she unites with pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev in the smallest possible form of chamber music: two people, two grand pianos. But this formation gains symphonic dimensions when Pletnev's transcription of Schubert's Unfinished combines the familiarity of a repertoire classic with the excitement of a world premiere. The sound mysteries emerging from the deep strings of this work appear here in the light of two pianos anew. The second part shows the level at which the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra builds artistic partnerships with the new international piano generation. Yunchan Lim is not just a young soloist but one of the most striking pianistic phenomena of his generation. In 2022, the South Korean won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at age 18 – the youngest gold medalist in the competition's history. His interpretation of Rachmaninoff's third piano concerto became an international event and was viewed millions of times online. Since then, Lim is regarded as an artist who combines extraordinary technique, depth, and an almost uncanny stage presence. The fact that the internationally sought-after young star gives his only Swiss concert at Le Piano Symphonique underscores the special role of the festival. In Liszt's second piano concerto, Yunchan Lim shows the connection of poetic imagination and eccentric virtuosity that makes this work so unique. What initially seems to connect to the romantic sound world of Schubert's Unfinished intensifies in Liszt to a dramatic, highly virtuosic form of symphonic piano thinking. To conclude, Mikhail Pletnev conducts the Symphonic Dances by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The last work of the Russian composer exists both in the orchestral version and in Rachmaninoff's own version for two pianos – fitting perfectly with the spirit of Le Piano Symphonique: The piano thinks symphonically, the orchestra responds with pianistic energy. Cast
Piano: Martha Argerich
Piano & Conducting: Mikhail Pletnev
Piano: Yunchan Lim
Lucerne Symphony Orchestra Program
1st ACT
Franz Schubert (1797 – 1828)
Symphony No. 7 The Unfinished in B minor, D 759, transcribed for two pianos by Mikhail Pletnev | 28’
(Martha Argerich, Mikhail Pletnev)
World premiere commissioned by the Le Piano Symphonique piano festival INTERMISSION 2nd ACT
Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S 125 | 24’
(Yunchan Lim)
Yunchan Lim's only Swiss concert Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943)
Symphonic Dances, op. 45 | 36’ End of concert approx. 21:20

Highlights

• World-class pianists: Martha Argerich, Mikhail Pletnev, and Yunchan Lim
• Performance of Schubert's Unfinished in Pletnev's transcription
• Unique combination of chamber music and orchestral works

General Information

The concert takes place at KKL Lucerne and brings together three outstanding pianists across generations. The evening offers an exciting mix of classical music and modern interpretations that will captivate the audience.

Location

Europaplatz 1, 6005 Luzern, Switzerland

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