Conducting an orchestra is a feat all on its own. Imagine conducting an orchestra while playing the piano. That’s exactly what guest conductor Jeffrey Kahane will do during the Reno Philharmonic Association’s Classix Four concert set.
Kahane performs and conducts Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 from the keyboard during this fourth installment of the Reno Philharmonic’s Classix Series, January 18 at 4 p.m. and January 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Currently in his 17th year as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Kahane made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1983. He now appears as soloist with major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Kahane has guest conducted for prominent orchestras across the country including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Chicago, Detroit and Dallas symphonies, among others.
“Hearing Mozart conducted from the keyboard evokes the era of Mozart himself and Jeffrey will simply be a delight; he lives and breathes this repertoire,” Laura Jackson, music director and conductor for the Reno Philharmonic, said.
“He is also a brilliant conductor from the podium, so the entire concert will be a wonderful artistic experience for our orchestra and audience alike,” Jackson concluded.
The performance by Kahane also marks the return of the Reno Philharmonic’s Steinway grand piano to the stage, which debuted in March of this year. The Steinway Concert D Grand Piano was purchased by the Reno Philharmonic through a grant from the E. L. Wiegand Foundation.
The second half of the Classix Four program opens with nocturne and scherzo of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, followed by the composer’s Symphony No. 5. In D major, op. 107 Reformation.
Classix Four performances are Sunday, January 18 at 4 p.m. and Tuesday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.
Pre-concert talks take place with Reno Philharmonic Association President and CEO Tim Young January 18 at 3 p.m., and again on January 20 at 7 p.m. In this preview, Young discusses the works and composers, giving attendees a background and historical context for the music they will hear.
To purchase tickets or for more information on the Reno Philharmonic visit RENOPHIL.com, or call 775-323-6393.
The Reno Philharmonic is northern Nevada’s largest performing arts organization. Beginning its 46th season, the orchestra, led by music director Laura Jackson, is comprised of more than 80 professional musicians who perform more than 30 concerts annually throughout the Reno, Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe region. Musicians of the professional orchestra, youth orchestras, various ensembles and education programs offer more than 60 performances each year, playing to more than 50,000 people.
The flagship of the Reno Philharmonic concert offering is a six-concert classical music series, Classix, performed on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.
