Memphis Symphony Orchestra plumbs Russian music for 'Rach to Tchaikovsky'

Lilya Zilberstein

This weekend's Masterworks program by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra focuses heavily on Russia with works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.

There's a different sort of connection between Tchaikovsky and American composer Michael Ables, whose work "Global Warming" will also be performed.

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2 in C minor ("Little Russian") is Russia of the czars, composed in 1872 and brimming with folk themes that presaged the conflict between peasantry and royalty. On the other end is "Global Warming," by the 49-year-old African-American composer who wrote his folk-infused work in part as a tribute to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the rekindling of peaceful relations among nations in 1989.

The showpiece of this weekend's concerts is "Rach 3" -- Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 3 in D minor for Piano and Orchestra, composed in 1909.

It's a notoriously difficult piece, technically demanding and a challenge for any performer.

But pianist Lilya Zilberstein, who will perform it at both concerts, has mastered the piece, having performed it many times since she first played it in concert in 1993.

"I cannot say how I approached it because I have repeated it so much, but I enjoy performing this incredible work because it is so exciting to play."

For the Russian-born player, who now lives in Hamburg, Germany, playing Rach 3 is like telling a great tale. "I feel as there's a story that keeps going and going and going," she says. "I've played it 80 times in concert, and it's different every time. The last time was in Hungary a month ago with a Hungarian orchestra and before that in Tampa, an American orchestra with a German conductor. The experience is always different."

Rachmaninoff is a favorite of the pianist, who has played all the composer's concertos. She has also has played the three Tchaikovsky piano concertos, but particularly likes to perform the Second. "It's not so well known as the First, but is so beautiful, and people get excited because they don't know it as well."

'From Rach to Tchaikovsky'

Memphis Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Rossen Milanov and pianist Lilya Zilberstein. Concerts 8 p.m. Saturday at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main (tickets $15-$78), and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre, 1801 Exeter. (tickets $45). For more information or tickets, go to memphissymphony.org or call (901) 537-2525.

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