This coming weekend, pianist Denis Kozhukhin will fill in for Anika Vavic, who unfortunately cannot come to The Hague due to circumstances. We are delighted that this top pianist can replace Vavic on this short notice.

Denis Kozhukhin broke through internationally at the age of 23 by winning First Prize at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Competition in 2010. He has performed with the world's best orchestras; in the Netherlands, his appearances included the Meesterpianisten series. Kozhukhin is praised for his enchanting and fascinating playing. He has also worked several times with our regular guest conductor Jun Märkl.

We begin this concert with an instrumental movement from Camille Saint-Saëns' opera "Henry VIII," which is unjustly almost never performed. Enjoy this hidden treasure from the French opera and stage world combined with Rachmaninov's grand and beloved Second Piano Concerto performed by Denis Kozhukhin.

For three years Dvorák lived and worked in the United States and drew inspiration for his highly successful Ninth (and Last) symphony. It resulted in a work full of optimism and belief in one's own abilities. The American dream captured in Dvorák's symphonic world.