One of the most beloved pianists of our time, Emanuel Ax is a GRAMMY®-winning artist known for his lyrical expression, deep musical insight, and a career spanning the world’s major orchestras and concert halls. A winner of the Arthur Rubinstein Competition and the Avery Fisher Prize, he is a longtime collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma and Leonidas Kavakos, with whom he continues the acclaimed Beethoven for Three project.
PROGRAM: Fantasies
BEETHOVEN: Sonata Op. 27, No. 1
CORIGLIANO: Fantasia on an Ostinato
BEETHOVEN: Sonata Op. 27, No. 2 “Moonlight”
Intermission
SCHUMANN: Arabesque, Op. 18
SCHUMANN: Fantasy, Op. 17
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Renowned for his poetic artistry and deep musical insight, pianist Emanuel Ax continues to captivate audiences across the globe. Born in Lviv (then Poland, now Ukraine) to Polish parents, he moved with his family to Winnipeg, Canada, as a child. His remarkable career was launched with a New York debut on the Young Concert Artists Series, followed by a major breakthrough in 1974 when he won the inaugural Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. He later received the Michaels Award (1975) and the Avery Fisher Prize (1979), cementing his place among the world’s leading pianists.
In the 2024–25 season, Mr. Ax continued his acclaimed Beethoven For Three project with longtime collaborators Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo Ma, with European performances at the BBC Proms, Dresden, Vienna, Hamburg, and Luxembourg. As a soloist, he opens the season with the New York Philharmonic, marking his 47th consecutive appearance with the orchestra. He will also perform with the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and National, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Rochester Symphonies.
A Sony Classical exclusive artist since 1987, Mr. Ax’s acclaimed discography includes GRAMMY® Award-winning recordings of Haydn sonatas and Beethoven and Brahms sonatas with Yo-Yo Ma. He is currently recording Beethoven’s complete trios and symphonies (arranged for trio) with Ma and Kavakos. A frequent contributor to educational and cultural programming, Mr. Ax appeared in the BBC’s International Emmy® Award-winning documentary commemorating the Holocaust.
Emanuel Ax is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds honorary doctorates from Yale, Columbia, Skidmore, and New England Conservatory.
