Olga Kern plays Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
Sunday, August 17, 2025, 6:30 PM MDT
Sun Valley Pavilion
Festival Orchestra
Alasdair Neale, Conductor
Olga Kern, Piano
Pre-Concert Chat at 5:45 PM
Lawn Paver Bar
Reena Esmail
Testament
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
Home to some of the most popular and recognizable tunes in classical music, Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto was an instant success and remains one of the most-performed orchestra pieces today. It will be in good hands (apologies) with Olga Kern, who won first prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano competition at age 17 and remains the only woman to win the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The concert opens with Reena Esmail’s Testament, which features traditional Hindustani melodies and easily demonstrates why Esmail’s music is receiving so much play these days.