Kremerata Baltica & Gidon Kremer, violin — “Russia: Masks & Faces”

“They animate everything their bows touch.” — Los Angeles Times

Classical music superstar Gidon Kremer brings his Kremerata Baltica — comprising outstanding young players from the Baltic states selected by Kremer himself — back to 92Y as part of a US tour celebrating his 70th birthday. The concert begins with two composers that Kremer has championed: Estonian Arvo Pärt and Polish-Russian Mieczysław Weinberg.

Mr. Kremer then offers a very personal take of today’s Russia and its artistic heritage in “Russia: Masks and Faces.” Two serenades — from the 19th and 21st centuries — bookend a new presentation of Mussorgsky’s showpiece, Pictures at an Exhibition, arranged for string orchestra and accompanied by projections of paintings by Russian artist/writer/social commentator Maxim Kantor.

ARVO PÄRT: Fratres for violin and string orchestra

WEINBERG: Chamber Symphony No. 4 for string orchestra and clarinet, Op. 153

Russia: Masks & Faces: (with projected paintings by Maxim Kantor)

TCHAIKOVSKY: Sérénade mélancolique for violin and strings, Op. 26 (arr. by L.Desyatnikov)

MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. for string orchestra by J. Cohen and A. Pushkarev)