Grieg's Piano Concerto and Peer Gynt with PhilZuid and Saleem Ashkar

Saleem Ashkar plays Grieg's Piano Concerto

At a young age, pianist Saleem Ashkar was discovered by Zubin Mehta, who invited him to join the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as a soloist. It was with this combination that Ashkar also made his debut in the Great Hall. And although Ashkar has a fondness for the music of Beethoven and Mendelssohn, he is bringing Grieg's Piano Concerto to Amsterdam. The press speaks of Ashkar's muscular playing and youthful energy, while words like poetry and verve are also used: all characteristics that benefit Grieg's concerto.

Grieg and Peer Gynt

Grieg's reputation has always been linked to his Norwegian nationality. In 1875, playwright Henrik Ibsen was extraordinarily demanding regarding Grieg's Peer Gynt music, much to the composer's frustration. Exaggerated musical characters, bite-sized chunks, all too recognizable melodies: precisely the ingredients for a timeless classic. Grieg's name is definitively linked to Peer Gynt .