Opening: Symphony of Fate

Last season, Kateryna Titova captivated the audience with her verve, emotional intensity, and astonishing pianistic technique.

This time, she takes on Liszt’s popular Piano Concerto No. 1, holding her own against the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in a highly innovative work that stands out for its intense dialogue between soloist and orchestra. A composition that accompanied Liszt for nearly two decades, it reflects the echoes of his early triumphs as a piano virtuoso and his later symphonic style. This evolution is clearly evident in the symphonic poem Prometheus, where Liszt portrays the hero’s suffering in captivity, his enduring hope, and his ultimate triumph.

Beethoven’s Symphony of Fate was so dear to Liszt that he transcribed all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies for piano. With this symphony—arguably the most famous work in the classical-romantic repertoire—Christoph Koncz brings the opening concert of the new season to a powerful close.