VU-Orkest o.l.v. Arjan Tien met soliste Vera Kooper

• An American in Paris - Gershwin
• Pianoconcert voor de linkerhand - Ravel
• Petroesjka - Stravinsky

Paris, where he became friends with Ravel, into his symphonic poem: An American in Paris. Complete with taxi horns and many jazz influences, it paints an energetic picture of the French capital through the eyes of a pedestrian. Not long after, Maurice Ravel wrote his Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, commissioned by the famous concert pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I. The dark aftermath of the war is clearly audible in this jazz-filled concerto, which also features the Gregorian theme of Dies Irae. A few years before the First World War, Igor Stravinsky wrote the ballet Petrushka for the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev's Russian ballet company in Paris. It tells the story of three puppets that come to life and experience all kinds of intrigues. Together, these masterpieces take the audience on a journey to the bustling Paris of yesteryear.

Pianist Vera Kooper
In collaboration with the VU Orchestra, internationally acclaimed Dutch pianist Vera Kooper tackles Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, a challenging and exceptional work. Known for her expressive playing, technical virtuosity, and musical depth, Kooper travels all over the world. As co-founder of the Delta Piano Trio, she has won international competitions and released several albums. In 2021, she formed the du Toit–Kooper duo, which combines classical repertoire with lesser-known works by female composers and composers from minority groups.