From Cliburn to Kantorow: A Celebration of Tchaikovsky

Part One: American Sputnik, a mini opera
Julian Kuerti, conductor  |  Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Joseph Lattanzi, baritone  |  Stanislav Khristenko, piano

Part Two: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Op. 44
Julian Kuerti, conductor  |  Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Alexandre Kantorow, 2024 Gilmore Artist, piano

American pianist Van Cliburn instantly shot to superstardom after winning the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War. At this year’s Festival, experience the World Premiere of a new one-act monodrama by American composer Evan Mack and Pulitzer-prize winning librettist Mark Campbell, exploring the impact of Cliburn’s historic win on his own life and on global culture. American Sputnik features baritone Joseph Lattanzi and Cleveland International Piano Competition-winning pianist Stanislav Khristenko dually portraying the role of Cliburn, joined by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra under Music Director Julian Kuerti. After intermission, 2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow — who followed in Cliburn’s footsteps as a winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition — joins the KSO to perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the concertos that helped Kantorow earn his victory at the competition.

More from Alexandre Kantorow:
Alexandre Kantorow, Solo Piano | May 2, 2026 at 8 pm | LEARN MORE