Young Soloists Headline Second Weekend of Free Miller Concerts

On June 30, Chinese-American pianist George Li will perform Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 under the direction of the BBC Philharmonic's new Principal Guest Conductor Ben Gernon. From a thunderous opening to a soaring finale, the emotive work has become the most popular piano concerto in history. Li has been praised by the Washington Post for combining "staggering technical prowess, a sense of command and depth of expression." The program concludes with Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 1.

The next evening, July 1, 24 year-old wunderkind composer and conductor Alex Prior will make his Houston Symphony debut just before he begins his post as Chief Conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in the upcoming season. Prior is joined by cellist Rainer Crosett, Silver Medalist of the 2017 Ima Hogg competition, who will perform Haydn's Cello Concerto. Crosett is a graduate of the New England Conservatory/Harvard joint program and is currently pursuing further graduate studies at the University of Southern California under Ralph Kirshbaum. The program concludes with Brahms' Symphony No. 4, one of the composer's most emotionally powerful works.

Admission is free, but tickets are required for the covered seated area. Tickets are available at the Miller Theatre Box Office the day of the performance between 10:30 a.m and 1 p.m. Any remaining tickets are released one hour before the performance time. Visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com for more information.

TCHAIKOVSKY & MENDELSSOHN
Friday, June 30, 8:30 p.m.
Ben Gernon, conductor
George Li, piano

Glinka: Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1

BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO. 4

Saturday, July 1, 8:30 p.m.

Alexander Prior, conductor

Rainer Crosett, cello

Verdi: Overture to I Vespri Siciliani

Haydn: Cello Concerto in C Major

Brahms: Symphony No. 4