Since 2009, German conductor and pianist Christian Zacharias has been an artistic partner with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. After seven years, Zacharias is concluding his tenure with the SPCO, and the orchestra is sending him off in style with a series of three concerts set for May 13 to 15. The concert on Saturday, May 14, will be broadcast live on Classical MPR.
Looking back on his experience with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Zacharias notes the SPCO is different than when he began his tenure. "As you know, the orchestra changed dramatically because some musicians left, some musicians arrived," he says. "So it is now … not a completely different orchestra but a very different orchestra. The string sections, they are more than half of new players, different players and very, very good players, young players."
As part of his farewell concerts, the SPCO will perform one of Zacharias's favorite pieces, the Piano Concerto No. 2 by Frederic Chopin, with Zacharias himself on piano. "Since this was celebrating my stay here, it was this idea," Zacharias says. "And I always loved the second Chopin concerto, and this is one I recorded with my orchestra in Lausanne so I think that it's quite understandable."
Listen to the live broadcast of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra on Saturday, May 14, starting at 8 p.m.; Alison Young hosts.
Concert Program
HAYDN: Symphony No. 82 in C, The Bear
BACEWICZ: Concerto for String Orchestra
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor
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