Rei Hotoda, guest conductor

Joyce Yang, piano

GABRIELA LENA FRANK Escaramuza

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9

PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1

Fresno Philharmonic Music Director Rei Hotoda delights in reaching audiences with innovative concerts and she’ll lead your Kansas City Symphony in this thought-provoking and deeply satisfying program.

Gabriela Lena Frank describes Escaramuza as a “brightly chiseled romp” that captures the triumphant and joyful spirit of Peru’s kampacha music. The entire orchestra gets a workout in this high-energy piece.

Breaking the stereotype that ninth symphonies are monumental, Dmitri Shostakovich’s compact Ninth Symphony is his sardonic statement in the face of grandiose expectations. Composed in 1945, the symphony is infused with humor and lyricism, deftly sidestepping overt defiance of Stalin’s regime with emotionally complex music beneath an unassuming surface.

With fiery technique and deep emotion, Joyce Yang brings Tchaikovsky’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 1 to glorious life with your Kansas City Symphony. Standing ovations invariably follow Yang’s performances with the Symphony due to her marvelous artistry. Tchaikovsky’s music is especially popular with Kansas City audiences and his First Piano Concerto has thrilled listeners for nearly 150 years.