In This Story
“An artist of strikingly original ideas and irrefutable integrity” (The Washington Post), pianist Simone Dinnerstein will join the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) performance on April 23 at the Center for the Arts. Simone was originally scheduled to perform different pieces, but due to a strained finger injury, she has adjusted her repertoire accordingly. Despite the unforeseen injury, the performance will feature a fantastic selection of music, both new and old, that will not only impress its audience, but allow Dinnerstein’s finger to heal.
The concert begins with the regional premiere of White Heron by composer Robert Carl, followed by Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K 488, and Rachmaninoff’s famous Symphony No. 2. The fun starts before the performance with a pre-concert talk with Dinnerstein and Music Director and Conductor of FSO Christopher Zimmerman.
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488 holds particular significance for Dinnerstein. Not only is the piece included on her 2017 album, Mozart in Havana, but the concerto served as a point of artistic connection between Dinnerstein and the Havana Lyceum Orchestra, with which she performed the piece while visiting Cuba in 2015, at the invitation of her teacher and esteemed pianist, Solomon Mikowsky. Gramophone describes Dinnerstein’s approach to piece as having a “wide yet subtle palette of tonal shadings and articulations,” while applauding her “crisp fingerwork and strategic left-hand accents.”
The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra revels in its excitement to be joined by Dinnerstein. “It's a pleasure and honor to collaborate with Simone, whose pianism and artistry the orchestra and I always look forward to,” said Zimmerman. “She has a direct and honest emotional connection to the music she plays, as well as an intellectual curiosity, which keep her interpretations fresh and special. We are thrilled to partner with the Center for the Arts at George Mason University to bring this exciting program to our audiences.”
Since 1957, FSO has focused on being a leading artistic voice on the concert stage and teaching the next generation of musicians in the greater Fairfax community. Dinnerstein has long been committed to education as well, having created a program, Bachpacking, in which she takes a digital keyboard to elementary school classrooms, helping young children get close to the music she loves. While in Fairfax, Dinnerstein will visit with students at FSO partner school, Woodburn Elementary, as well as host a masterclass with Mason School of Dance students on April 22.
“The Center for the Arts is thrilled to be partnering with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra on this special presentation of one of the great pianists of our time,” adds Center for the Arts Director of Programming Adrienne Bryant Godwin The FSO is a true gem in the cultural landscape of Northern Virginia, and the Center is proud to be able to collaborate with them to bring Simone Dinnerstein to our community, sharing her impeccable artistry both from the stage and in the Mason classroom.”
To learn more about the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra featuring Simone Dinnerstein on April 23, visit the Center for the Arts website.