'Piano Maestro' Leonskaya Returns to Korea After 6 Years... Collaboration with KBS Symphony Orchestra

Elizaveta Leonskaya Returns After Six Years
Performing Grieg's Piano Concerto at the Seoul Arts Center on May 2

Elizaveta Leonskaya, the 'piano maestro' born in Georgia, will visit Korea for the first time in six years.

Leonskaya will perform Grieg's Piano Concerto as a soloist at the KBS Symphony Orchestra's 813th regular concert, held at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on May 2nd at 8 p.m.

Leonskaya, who turned eighty this year, is a legendary Russian pianist representing this era and is regarded as the musical successor to the maestro Sviatoslav Richter. This visit marks Leonskaya's first return to Korea since her debut solo recital in 2018. Her second visit, scheduled for 2020, was canceled due to COVID-19.

Elisabeth Leonskaja [Photo courtesy of KBS Symphony Orchestra, (c) Marco Borggreve]

Michael Sanderling from Germany will take the conductor's baton. Sanderling made a strong impression when he first collaborated with the KBS Symphony Orchestra at the 799th regular concert last year. He has served as the music director of the Dresden Philharmonic and has worked with major European orchestras.

The concert will open with Sibelius's "Finlandia." Composed as a prayer for Finnish national independence, the piece is well known for its majestic brass melodies and moving chorale.

Following this, Leonskaya will perform Grieg's Piano Concerto, a work that harmonizes the unique lyricism and brilliant technique characteristic of Northern Europe, featuring a powerful introduction and a lyrical melody.

Michael Sanderling [Photo by KBS Symphony Orchestra, (c) Marco Borggreve]

In the second half, Elgar's "Enigma Variations" will be performed. This work consists of 14 variations dedicated to Elgar's friends and acquaintances, each variation expressing a unique color and emotion. In particular, the "Nimrod" variation is considered one of Elgar's most deeply moving masterpieces.

A representative of the KBS Symphony Orchestra said, "This concert is a special stage where you can experience the essence of Northern European and British music. The profound performance by world-renowned maestro Elizaveta Leonskaya and the meticulous interpretation by Michael Sanderling, who left a deep impression last year, will create an emotional experience."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.