We may frown on his acquaintances with Vladimir Putin’s regime, but Valery Gergiev is nonetheless one of the great maestros of our time. Montreal music lovers have witnessed his genius on a few occasions, including appearances with the Mariinsky Orchestra of Saint-Petersburg, which he conducts with an iron fist, but also with extraordinary refinement and astounding mastery. This time we’ll have the opportunity to see Gergiev at work with the MSO, which suggests a very special relationship with this exceptional maestro. What about Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9? What place will he give to Hungarian virtuoso Kristóf Baráti, guest soloist in Mendelssohn’s indispensable Violin Concerto No. 2? All hopes are high, and this is one of the most eagerly awaited concerts of the season.
ARTISTS AND PROGRAM
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Valery Gergiev
Violin: Kristóf Baráti
Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto pour violon No. 2 in E minor, Op. 64
Bruckner, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, WAB 109