Marc-André Hamelin, Piano

You’ll hear Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s evocative depiction of cypress trees, a legendary pianist’s arrangement of French popular songs, and some of most technically challenging classics in the repertoire—it’s what you’ve come to expect from Marc-André Hamelin. His “preternatural clarity and control” (The New York Times) is ideal for Busoni’s grand arrangement of Bach’s monumental Chaconne—an arrangement that asks the pianist to play “quasi trombone”—and dazzling showpieces by Schumann and Chopin.

Seong-Jin Cho, Piano

After a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut, the award-winning Seong-Jin Cho returns with Austrian, French, and Russian repertoire that makes for an evening of great pianism. Schubert summons a grand orchestral sound from the piano in his surging "Wanderer Fantasy," while in contrast Debussy uses delicate timbres and hazy harmonies to paint sound pictures. The paintings in Mussorgsky’s masterwork are vividly depicted in striking music that’s bold in character and sweeping in its power. Cho’s “lucid and shimmering sound” (Financial Times) will remind you why he is an International Chopin Piano Competition winner.

Daniil Trifonov, Piano

Following the success of last season’s Perspectives series, Daniil Trifonov—“one of the most spectacularly virtuosic pianists of the day” (The New York Times)—returns to Carnegie Hall. Works by three of the greatest composer-pianists—Beethoven, Schumann, and Prokofiev—are featured. Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 18 is a genial work capped by an exuberant fast-paced finale. Prokofiev reserves his jubilation for the climax of his war-cloud–streaked sonata; when victory is celebrated in the finale, it's a quintessentially Russian celebration with rapid-fire passages that suggest pealing bells.

Yefim Bronfman, Piano

Yefim Bronfman is “… one of the most gifted and brilliant and versatile” pianists, a virtuoso “with chops that need fear no comparisons” (The New York Times). In this recital, he performs one of Schubert’s final sonatas, Schumann’s brilliantly free-flowing Humoresque, and other works. In particular, Schubert’s sonata is a restless work where chiaroscuro effects intensify the drama and virtuosity drives the nervous excitement.

Evgeny Kissin, Piano

Whether he’s spinning threads of golden melody in Chopin, snapping off a fistful of notes in Prokofiev, or exploring the music of a rarely heard Jewish master, Evgeny Kissin has earned his living legend status. Praised for his “blend of technical mastery and eloquent artistry” (The New York Times) as well as the “lovely limpid clarity” (The Telegraph) of his playing, a Kissin recital is always the one you cannot miss.