In January of 2011, pianist Brian Ganz began a multi-year project in partnership with the National Philharmonic in which he will perform the complete works of Frédéric Chopin at the Music Center at Strathmore.
Ganz, playing with the National Philharmonic, returns Saturday to continue his journey through the music of Chopin with the Fantasia on Polish Airs and Rondo à la krakowiak according to a press release. Soprano Aleksandra Kurzak joins the orchestra and Maestro Piotr Gajewski for Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, an austere yet moving work that marked a shift in the composer’s style and has since earned a place among classical music’s cult favorites.
Ganz noted that Chopin wrote the two works he will perform when he was just 18 years old. “At the time Chopin composed these two works, he would have been able to get into the concert for free!” referencing the National Philharmonics policy of children 7 to 17 being admitted for free.
Mr. Ganz is on the piano faculty of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he is artist-in-residence, and is also a member of the piano faculty of the Peabody Conservatory.
Tickets are $29-$89 with a 20% discount with code KURZAK20. The concert takes place at 8 pm on Saturday May, 7. Tickets can be purchased at nationalphilharmonic.org or by calling 301-581-5100.
Photo courtesy Jay Mallin
