Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Hailed by The New York Times as “thrilling and unabashedly personal,” the virtuosity and dynamic stage presence of pianist Makoto Ozone on Rachmaninoff’s stunning Paganini Variations would be enough to excite any listener, but seasoned guest conductor Jun Märkl has even more up his sleeve for this weekends’ audiences.

From the sizzling sounds of Chabrier’s España to the fresh, glistening portrait of springtime in Debussy’s Printemps, this concert features a menu of music that will leave no concertgoer hungry – and that’s all before your Colorado Symphony performs the music of Stravinsky’s iconic ballet Petrushka. This bold work underscores a tantalizing story depicting the love triangle between three puppets and their desires to become flesh and blood. Like its characters, Petrushka’s music leaps off the page, eager to participate in the joy of existence as it combines wit, merriment, and reckless abandon with Russian folk elements to cap an evening filled with music that’s evocative, beautiful, and just plain fun.