Seong-Jin Cho Plays Rachmaninoff

Seong-Jin Cho takes the stage at Marian Anderson Hall in the Kimmel Center on Saturday, January 9, 2027, for a program presented by the Philadelphia Orchestra. He's on piano for Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, and the second half of the evening is Sibelius's Symphony No. 2, with Dima Slobodeniouk conducting.

Cho is a name that carries some weight if you follow the piano. He won first prize at the International Chopin Competition at 21, and the Chicago Classical Review later described his playing as combining virtuosic feats and a stainless-steel technical arsenal with great musical taste. Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto is one of those pieces that has leaked far beyond the concert hall; its melodies have turned up in films like Grand Hotel, Brief Encounter, and The Seven Year Itch, and in songs recorded by Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion. It's a big, romantic work that gives the soloist plenty of room to run.

That's paired here with Sibelius's Symphony No. 2, a piece critics have linked to the composer's passion for Finnish independence. It's a symphonic work that leans into the orchestra's power, so it balances the piano-heavy first half. The conductor is Dima Slobodeniouk, who's been praised for the vital intensity, brilliant color, and well-pointed precision of his performances. This marks his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, so it's his first time leading the ensemble in a city concert.

The whole evening runs about one hour and 55 minutes, including intermission. If you're planning your night, keep in mind that the Kimmel Center is at 300 S Broad St in Center City, so you're right in the mix for dinner or drinks before and after. The concert is on Saturday, January 9.