It’s June and as the long summer nights beckon so does the season of summer festivals.
This month Hélène Grimaud is joining Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra for the 100th birthday of Paris’ Théâtre des Champs-Élysées performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G on June 10th. Also on the programme is Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring which famously received its premiere in a staged production featuring the Ballet Russes in the theatre’s opening season in 1913. And it is to Russia where Hélène then heads for a performance with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Yuri Temirkanov on June 15th, followed by appearances throughout Europe including the Bad Kissingen, Schleswig Holstein, Gstaad and Verbier Festivals.
In Gstaad Hélène Grimaud will perform three programs as Artist in Residence at this year’s festival, opening with Beethoven’s Piano concerto no. 4 (July 18), a solo recital (July 20) and a programme of Bach and the little known Ukranian composer Valentyn Silvestrov with Zurich’s Tonhalle Orchestra.
Hélène returns to the States in early August to perform Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 1 at the famous Hollywood Bowl together with the LA Philharmonic and James Gaffigan.
