Johannes Brahms: Concerto No. 1 for Piano
Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

A powerful, deeply felt program brings the Classics series to a close with Daniel Raiskin on the podium. At the centre of the evening is pianist Anna Geniushene, a medalist at the renowned Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, returning after having to withdraw from her 24/25 engagement to perform Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, giving Winnipeg audiences their first chance to hear her live. Written when Brahms was still in his twenties, this sweeping concerto combines symphonic breadth with solo brilliance: a bold, storm-tossed opening movement, a serene, almost prayerful slow movement, and a fiery, Hungarian-tinged finale.

The orchestra then steps into the spotlight in Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, heard in Maurice Ravel’s glowing orchestration. Inspired by a memorial exhibition of paintings, the music traces a walk through a gallery of vivid scenes. Listeners encounter everything from quirky gnomes and unhatched chicks to solemn catacombs and the majestic “Great Gate of Kyiv,” brought to life in brilliant orchestral colour. Together, these works create an evening that feels both personal and celebratory.