Kirill Gerstein

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The Art of the Impossible 

Discover the art of the impossible when Kirill Gerstein, poet of the piano, scales new heights of virtuosity. From delicate nocturnes to bravura polonaises to new work from Australian composer Liza Lim, this philosopher showman takes us from much-loved landscapes to mysterious worlds where few dare to go.

Kirill Gerstein is a showman, a philosopher, and a poet of the piano. He grew up playing jazz, switched to classical and won the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition at just 22. Since then, he has carved out a formidable reputation as a fearless artist who makes the impossible sound easy.

For his solo recital tour, he is scaling new heights of virtuosity: Liszt’s power Polonaise in E and Schumann’s Viennese romp, Carnival of Vienna. In the same program, he dives deep into the profundity of Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantaisie, and gives the world premiere of Transcendental Etude, a new commission from Australian Liza Lim.

There is a masterclass with Kirill Gerstein in Melbourne (June 12). Find out more about our masterclasses here.

"A peerless performer with so much to express "
— Guardian
"Uncanny delicacy in one episode and gnashing power the next "
— The New York Times
"There is a feeling of great agitation and complexity in this music which Gerstein responded to with stunning technique and finesse."
— Limelight

What audiences are saying

Listen

Listen to the music before you hear Kirill Gerstein live.

KIRILL GERSTEIN piano 

CHOPIN Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61
MEHLDAU Après Fauré No. 3: Nocturne
FAURÉ Nocturne No. 13 in B minor, Op. 119 
POULENC Three Intermezzi, FP71/118 
LISZT Polonaise in E major, S. 223 No. 2 
CHOPIN Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49
LIZA LIM Transcendental Etude (2023)* 
SCHUMANN Carnival of Vienna, Op. 26 

*World premiere performances. Commissioned by Musica Viva Australia with funds from the Hildegard Project, championing the work of female composers.

Liza Lim

Liza Lim is a composer, educator and researcher whose music focuses on collaborative and transcultural practices. Beauty, rage & noise, ecological connection, and female spiritual lineages are at the heart of recent
works such as Sex Magic (2020) for Claire Chase; the orchestral cycle, Annunciation Triptych: Sappho, Mary, Fatimah (2019–22), and the piano concerto World as Lover, World as Self (2021). Her large-scale cycle Extinction Events and Dawn Chorus (2018) has found especially wide resonance internationally and highlights
ecological listening to more-than human realms.

Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by the Hildegard Project, supporting female composers. Liza Lim’s new work will be premiered by Kirill Gerstein on our national tour.

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Event and Ticketing Details

Dates & Times

Hobart   10 June 7:30pm
Melbourne   11 June 7pm
Canberra   13 June 7pm
Newcastle   14 June 7:30pm
Sydney   17 June 7pm
Brisbane, QPAC   19 June 7pm
Adelaide   20 June 7:30pm
Perth   23 June 6:30pm

Location

Multiple Venues

Please check the venue in your city when booking tickets.

Event notes

Concert Duration

The concert has an approximate duration of 102 minutes with an interval.

Venue Information

Read more about the venues here.

Masterclasses

Find out about our masterclass Melbourne here.

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