Echoes of Heritage with Olga Kern, piano
Friday, February 27, 2026 Saturday, February 28, 2026 7:30 PM at Maryland Hall
Sunday, March 1, 2026 3:00 PM at The Music Center at Strathmore
Tickets for the Maryland Hall performance are available on our website.
Tickets for the performance at the Music Center at Strathmore must be purchased on the Strathmore website.
Silvestre Revueltas: Janitzio Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, Olga Kern, piano William Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony
MUSIC PROGRAM
Rachmaninoff’s unforgettable melodies, emotional depth, technical brilliance, and rich orchestral textures are instantly recognizable and stay with the listener long after the music ends. His Second Piano Concerto expresses a wide range of emotions, from passionate intensity to melancholic longing, often reflecting the composer’s own personal experiences. The melody in the second movement inspired Eric Carmen’s bestselling tune “All By Myself.”
Olga Kern, renowned for her technical skill and musicality, returns to the ASO on stage at Maryland Hall in Annapolis and at Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda to perform one of the greatest and most beloved works in the piano repertoire. Kern’s artistry embodies the technical brilliance, bold expression, and emotional depth that define Rachmaninoff’s style.
The evening begins with Silvestre Revueltas’ Janitzio, an energetic and colorful orchestral piece inspired by the rhythms and folk traditions of Mexico. Evoking the lively spirit of the island town for which it is named, Janitzio is a vibrant celebration of culture and movement.
Closing the program is William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, a powerful and richly orchestrated work that draws on African American spirituals and folk melodies. Dawson’s symphony masterfully weaves traditional themes into a sweeping, symphonic form, offering a profound and moving reflection on heritage and resilience.
Olga Kern photo credit: Chris Lee
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