Vonsattel Impresses in Chicago Symphony Debut

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Gilles Vonsattel, associate professor of piano, performed Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2: “The Age of Anxiety” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kent Nagano in concerts March 29-31.

The performances were in celebration of the composer’s 100th birthday.

Music critic Lawrence A. Johnson from Chicago Classical Review called Vonsattel’s performance “most impressive” and “inspired,” adding that the pianist displayed “a light, kitten-on-the-keys panache that was delightful and felt just right.”

Bernstein himself was the featured soloist for the work’s first performance in 1949 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Serge Koussevitsky, to whom the work is dedicated. 

In addition to his work for the music and dance department, Vonsattel maintains a busy performance schedule, including regular engagements with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and other prestigious institutions.

Vonsattel described his subscription debut with the CSO, widely viewed as one of the world finest orchestral ensembles, as “the biggest career moment one can hope for” as a performer.