University of Alabama at Birmingham Professor of Piano Yakov Kasman, DMA, will be a soloist with Saratov Philharmonic Orchestra in the performance of Nikolai Medtner’s Piano Concerto No. 2 op. 50 on Sunday, Dec. 6.
Kasman is a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Music.
Saratov is a major Russian city located on the Volga River, about 500 miles southeast of Moscow. The city is well-known for its long musical traditions, including having one of the first music conservatories in Russia.
Medtner’s second piano concerto is a brilliant masterpiece, the best known of all of his three piano concertos, Kasman says. It is dedicated to Medtner’s friend, Sergei Rachmaninoff.
“This is a rare opportunity for any pianist to perform this incredible piece with an orchestra, and also a rare chance for the audience to listen to it live,” Kasman said. “I did Medtner’s third concerto earlier this year in Ukraine and now am looking forward to performing the second in Russia.”
This week Kasman is on the jury of the Russian national piano competition in Moscow, “Merzlyakovka Invites Friends.”
“This is a major, all-Russian biannual competition for youth for which I am honored to be on the jury for the fourth time,” Kasman said.