Vikingur Olafsson © Ari Magg
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra / Ólafsson / Denève
Thursday
23
March
2023
19:30 – ca. 21:30
Großer Saal
Presented by
Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft
Clavieristic Spark Flights
Víkingur Ólafsson opens doors to a new world for his audience: the Icelandic-born composer focuses on broadening horizons in his interpretations and projects. In one of his CD recordings, for example, he juxtaposed piano pieces by Rameau with compositions by Debussy. He will put one of the most popular and at the same time most imposing piano concertos of the late Romantic period in a new light. With the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra under the direction of its principal conductor Stéphane Denève, Ólafsson will interpret the work that established Edvard Grieg's early fame. According to Grieg's recollection, the intrepid Franz Liszt once sight-read the full-throated work with its breathtaking cadenza: »At last, with a strange, heartfelt emphasis, he said to me, playing back my work: go on, I tell you, you have what it takes, and - don't be deterred.«