Press

SSO with Emanuel Ax: mastery coupled with humanity

SSO with Emanuel Ax: mastery coupled with humanity

By Bernard Jacobson | The Seattle Times

When Emanuel Ax plays Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto, any participating orchestra’s principal cellist can expect to be accorded an equal place in the spotlight. It was heartwarming, at Benaroya Hall on Thursday evening, to observe the pianist’s insistent inclusion of Efe Baltacigil in his acceptance of the audience’s plaudits. Read more …

John Adams’ ‘Absolute Jest’ in San Francisco

John Adams’ ‘Absolute Jest’ in San Francisco

By Mark Swed | Los Angeles Times

When John Adams was a young composer and conductor in San Francisco in the early ’70s, he would often perform the experimental music of John Cage and other radicals, which was the hip thing to do at the time. But he has said that all that avant-garde business could leave him musically dissatisfied, and he’d go home and put on recordings of late Beethoven string quartets.
Read more …

Next Concerts

    November 12, 2026

    Philharmonia Orchestra

    Royal Festival Hall

    J. STRAUSS II Overture, Die Fledermaus
    MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503
    R. STRAUSS Elektra Suite (arr. Honeck & Ille)

    with Manfred Honeck, conductor

    November 13, 2026

    Screening: All the music in the world

    IFC Center

    Filmmaker Joseph Levy reveals how Ax’s scrappy NYC childhood and a close friendship with Yo-Yo Ma illuminated and enriched Ax’s natural gifts, while poignantly capturing the emotional weight of life transitions.

    November 14, 2026

    Screening: All the music in the world

    Village East by Angelika

    Filmmaker Joseph Levy reveals how Ax’s scrappy NYC childhood and a close friendship with Yo-Yo Ma illuminated and enriched Ax’s natural gifts, while poignantly capturing the emotional weight of life transitions.

    November 15, 2026

    Recital

    Auditorium de Radio France

    R. SCHUMANN Papillons
    SCHUBERT Four Impromptus, D. 935
    CHOPIN Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major
    CHOPIN Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60
    CHOPIN Nocturnes, Op. 27
    CHOPIN Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor

    November 16, 2026

    Dresden Philharmonic

    Smetana Hall

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major
    BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7 in E major

    with Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor

    November 17, 2026

    Dresden Philharmonic

    Cankarjev Dom

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major
    BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7 in E major

    with Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor

    November 18, 2026

    Dresden Philharmonic

    Fondazione Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine

    BEETHOVEN Egmont Overture
    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major
    BRAHMS Symphony No. 4 in E minor

    with Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor

    November 20, 2026

    Dresden Philharmonic

    Isarphilharmonie

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major
    BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7 in E major

    with Sir Donald Runnicles, conductor

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