KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 23, 2019

Pianist Tengku Irfan to play Bartók Piano Concerto No. 2

Kennesaw State University’s School of Music will host the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) on October 4 at 8 p.m. In his penultimate season as Music Director of the ASO, Robert Spano leads the orchestra in the Preludes to Acts I and III of Wagner’s Lohengrin, two pieces engineered to excite the most exquisite yearning and all-out exhilaration.

Then, Malaysian virtuoso and ASO guest artist Tengku Irfan throws his “sheer incisiveness and power” (The New York Times) into the impish charm and pianistic thunder of Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Tengku, 20, began piano lessons at 7 and made his debut at 11, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto WoO4 and improvising his own cadenzas with Claus Peter Flor and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). He has performed as soloist with orchestras worldwide under Neeme Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Robert Spano, Osmo Vänskä, George Stelluto, Jeffrey Milarsky, among others.

Tengku’s previous performances include the Montreal la Virée classique Festival (invitation from Kent Nagano), with AXIOM, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Aspen Chamber Symphony, Juilliard, Singapore Symphony, Sao Paulo State Youth, Estonian National Symphony, Malaysian & Lexington Philharmonic, Peoria Symphony, Aspen Philharmonic and Minnesota orchestras, among others. In conjunction with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra’s 20th Season Anniversary, he was appointed as the MPO Youth Ambassador to cultivate appreciation in classical music among the new generation and inspire young musicians.

Young musicians will certainly be inspired by this program. Closing the performance will be Brahms’ First Symphony, a riveting and unforgettable symphonic journey from the stormy opening measures to its triumphant conclusion. 

The ASO will perform again at Kennesaw State University on April 17, 2020 with Nicholas Carter, conductor, and Midori, violin. Jennifer Barlament, ASO Executive Director said, “In addition to the major artistic achievements of our 75th season, we look forward to connecting with the metro Atlanta community on a deeper level than ever before.” 

Don’t miss Robert Spano conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Kennesaw State University, October 4, 8 p.m. at Morgan Concert Hall in the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center on the Kennesaw campus. To buy tickets, please visit ticketing.kennesaw.edu.
--Kathie Beckett