San Francisco Symphony: Anna Rakitina – Elgar & Rachmaninoff at Frost Amphitheater

For this wonderful showcase, the San Francisco Symphony joins forces with Stanford Live, a music organization under Stanford University. Together, these musical entities will deliver the music of Edward Elgar and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Both composers have changed the way people listen to music. For instance, Rachmaninoff went through a period of depression while composing music. Eventually, he rose from his turmoil and introduced the world to his most groundbreaking piece, “Concerto No. 2,” in 1901.

Meanwhile, English composer Edward Elgar entertained the world with his turn-of-the-century concertos. During this time, many believed him to be at his peak. A writer once wrote, “Elgar's genius rose to its greatest height in his orchestral works.”

In this regard, the San Francisco Symphony and Stanford Live pay homage to Rachmaninoff and Elgar’s legacy through a fantastic performance at the Frost Amphitheatre. The symphony will be led by the young conductor Anna Rakitina. A graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Rakitina has performed with several esteemed ensembles, such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At 31 years old, she has accomplished more than many conductors her age. She was the second woman to serve as assistant conductor at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and won second prize at the Malko Competition 2018.

Esteemed pianist Denis Kozhukhin from Russia was the winner of the 2006 Leeds International Piano Competition. Four years later, he won the 2010 Belgian Queen Elisabeth Competition for piano. Since then, he has performed with various music organizations, such as Orchestre Philarmonique Luxembourg, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Swimm ensemble, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Kozhukhin has also recorded several notable tracks for the classical music label, Pentatone.

The San Francisco Symphony has been around since 1911 and remains one of the most accomplished and highly regarded orchestras in North America. In the last 26 years, the symphony has won 14 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Peabody Award, a Gramophone Award, a Grand Prix Du Disque, and a Pulitzer Prize for Music. This 2023-2024 season, the Symphony will deliver countless performances under the leadership of music director Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Hurry and catch the San Francisco Symphony as they deliver the amazing music of Edward Elgar and Sergei Rachmaninoff at the Frost Amphitheater this summer!