The Russian-American pianist Kirill Gerstein grew up with both classical music and jazz records. That broad background is clearly reflected in his playing. He is internationally acclaimed not only for his formidable technique, but also for his strong sense of rhythm and the ease with which he renders complex music clear and comprehensible, creating a direct connection between listener and composer. It feels as though you are discovering, step by step, what a piece is trying to express, whether it is Schumann, Liszt, or a contemporary work. With Gerstein, both large-scale Romantic repertoire and modern compositions sound consistently fresh and direct.

In this concert, Romanticism forms the central thread. In Mendelssohn’s Variations sérieuses, Gerstein demonstrates how precisely he can shape a sequence of highly contrasting characters without losing the overarching line. In Schumann’s monumental Fantasie in C, he builds expansive arcs of tension while allowing space for poetic intimacy. In Isolde’s Liebestod, he distills Wagner’s orchestral sound world into a single instrument without sacrificing intensity. The evening concludes with Liszt’s Sonata in B minor, repertoire in which Gerstein is clearly at home: his approach is powerful, yet always attentive to detail and guided by an unshakeable sense of the larger structure.

In recent years, Gerstein has made a strong impression with performances of the Piano Concerto written especially for him by British composer Thomas Adès: “A remarkable pianist, combining a rich tone and powerful technique with a visionary musicality.” (De Nieuwe Muze, 2025)