The National Arts Centre Orchestra, led by its music director Pinchas Zukerman, is presenting a four-concert Russian Festival from September 27 to October 6. The concerts feature an expanded string section, a double-tasking Zukerman (who will be conducting and performing as violin soloist), and four Russian-born pianists personally selected by the Maestro: Kirill Gerstein (September 27), Behzod Abduraimov (September 30), Olga Kern (October 5), and Georgy Tchaidze (October 6).

Repertoire to be performed at the Festival includes classics of the 19th and 20th centuries, including Tchaikovsky’s perennially popular Piano Concerto No. 1, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2, Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and Piano Concerto No. 1 by Shostakovich. We’re particularly pumped for the October 5 performance of Prokofiev’s film score for Alexander Nevsky, featuring chorus, orchestra and mezzo-soprano.