The Sarasota Concert Association is celebrating its 75^th anniversary with a lineup of world-renowned classical artists and ensembles featuring the opening of the 2020 Great Performers Series season with the renowned pianist Behzod Abduraimov performing Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28, Debussy’s “Children’s Corner,” and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” 

Behzod Abduraimov’s performances combine an immense depth of musicality with phenomenal technique and breath-taking delicacy. Recognized as much for his depth of substance as well as his sweeping style, this young Uzbeki pianist has already performed with the world’s leading orchestras in collaborationwith such conductors as Ashkenazy and Gergiev and brings to Sarasota a program fresh from a second appearance at Carnegie Hall.

“There is a direct connection that could be made between Abduraimov’s breadth of musical maturity and the wide-ranging scope of his program,” says Charles Turon Ph.D. Turon a pianist, educator and recently retired professor of piano, music theory and music history at State College of Florida, explains that the first half of the program begins with all 24 Chopin Preludes, which in themselves range from the deceptively simple to unquestionably virtuosic. “As a bookend to these miniature masterpieces is Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition,’ a work of rich imagination inspired by a varied set of 10 drawings and paintings capped with the monumental ‘Great Gate of Kiev.’ Between Chopin and Mussorgsky, Abduraimov explores the magic of childhood though Debussy’s ‘Children’s Corner,’ a work the composer dedicated to his own daughter. The variety of this program will provide the audience with a very wide array of emotions and afford Abduraimov the opportunity to display both intimate expression and impressive pianism.”

The performance takes place Wednesday, January 15, 7:30 pm at the Van Wezel Performing Art Hall in Sarasota.

For tickets.