Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius presents an exceptional evening for piano music lovers. Piano virtuosos Petras Geniušas and Alexander Paley will be together for the first time on the same stage, with three piano conversations between the two pianists. 

 

The evening will begin with the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Unlike his other concertos, in which the soloist and the orchestra engage in a musical dialogue, in this opus Mozart brings the dialogue between the pianists to the fore. The musical narrative in the work is revealed by virtuosic piano passages. The two solo parts are equal in this concerto, while the orchestra is given the role of accompanist.

 

The second piece will be Camille Saint-Saëns' (1835-1921) famous suite Carnival of the Beasts, which the composer wrote in 1886, after a highly unsuccessful concert tour of Germany. "I know I should be working on my Third Symphony, but it's so much fun to write this piece!" - wrote the composer. However, until his death, Saint-Saëns did not allow the Carnival of the Beasts to be performed in public, fearing that the levity of the suite would damage his reputation as a serious composer. "The Carnival of the Beasts was first performed in public in 1922 and...

 

The evening will conclude with Francis Poulenc's (1899-1963) famous Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, which has been described as the pinnacle of the composer's early career. The work is influenced by traditional Balinese ensemble music, such as gãmelan, its use of jazzy effects is reminiscent of Ravel, and the opening theme is undoubtedly influenced by the work of W. A. Mozart.