Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg

About the Event

Established in 1855, the international horizons of the Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg were broadened by outstanding conductors, such as Klemperer, Pfitzner and Bour, and since 2012 Marko Letonja, its current principal conductor.

Since the very beginning, the Orchestra has attached special importance to guest appearances by composers conducting their own works. It annually gives over thirty symphony concerts, and collaborates closely with the Opéra National du Rhin.

21‐year‐old pianist and composer Kit Armstrong has garnered worldwide attention with his remarkable musical talent and brilliance of mind. Apart from graduating in piano and composition from the Royal Academy of Music in London, Armstrong has also studied mathematics and science at university level and last year obtained a Master of Science degree from the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. Kit Armstrong is one of the few protégés of Alfred Brendel, his mentor since 2005. Also passionately devoted to chamber music, composing is the basis upon which Armstrong contemplates music.

After having directed the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra for over a decade, Slovenian conductor Marko Letonja gained worldwide renown. Upon leaving Slovenia, he held the post of artistic director and principal conductor of the Symphony Orchestra and Opera in Basel for three years. In 2008 Letonja became principal guest conductor of the Orchestra Victoria Melbourne, and was last year appointed to the post of artistic director of the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. One of maestro Letonja’s most recent highlights is the outstanding debut at the Vienna State Opera.

The programme offers an insight into the musical heritage and interpretative virtuosity of the featured artists. Berlioz was one of the first guest conductors of the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra, a special Chopin interpretation paved the way for the young pianist to masterful Brendel, while with Beethoven the Slovenian conductor explores the musical heritage of his native Central Europe.

Conductor: Marko Letonja

Soloist: Kit Armstrong, piano