Houston Symphony RachFest

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the symphony for a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto #3, in D minor, Op. 30, which is, possibly, my favorite piece of music.  This performance was part of RachFest, as the Houston Symphony has called the package, three performances over three weeks in January.  The moment I saw this on the web site, I was on the phone with the box office for tickets.  I used to be a season’s ticket holder at the symphony, but surrendered my seats a couple of years ago, so I was particularly excited about RachFest.  The package includes Piano Concertos #1, #2, #3 and #4.

The pianist performing is Krill Gerstein, a Russian-born pianist.  In 2010, he won the Gilmore Award, only the sixth musician to be so honored.

Sergei Rachmaninoff composed Piano Concerto #3 in 1909.  The Rach 3 is famous for its technical and musical demands on the artist and has a reputation for being one of the most technically challenging piano concertos.  Rachmaninoff composed the concerto in the peaceful setting of his family home, and first performed it himself on November 28, 1909.  Rachmaninoff was a Russian pianist and composer and was considered one of the finest pianists of his day.  He was born in April of 1873 and died in March of 1943.

In my as-yet unpublished Sinners’ Opera, the hero is a classical pianist, a British lord and a vampire.  In the book, he plays the Rach 3 with the Atlanta Symphony in a scene where he takes the heroine on stage while he plays.  It’s one of my favorite scenes.

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