In recent years, pianist, Andrew Staupe, has challenged himself with championing and performing lesser-known piano concertos. This concert season alone, Staupe is learning an astounding eight new concerti. One of those, Scriabin's Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor, will be performed for the first time with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra on Thursday and Friday, November 18th and 19th.
It's a mystery as to why this work isn't performed more often. An early work of Scriabin, it's a romantic-sounding piece, with strong influences from Chopin and Rachmaninov. But Staupe says that it’s more of a tone poem for piano and orchestra, and while the piece is difficult, the concerto isn’t a virtuosic vehicle to show-off the technical skill of the pianist. Additionally, it’s a challenge to put such a work together with a symphony orchestra with limited rehearsal time.
Learn more about Staupe and the process he took to learn the Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor by Alexander Scriabin in this interview with Morning Concert host, Melony Dodson.
This concert will also include the world premiere of Dosia McKay’s Watercolors, as well as Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6. Tickets and information at www.knoxvillesymphony.com
