Tchaikovsky’s beloved Rococo Variations at season concert on November 13th

Published 07.11.2025

Rising cello star Ivan Karizna as the soloist of KSO

At the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra’s Emotions and Variations season concert on Thursday, November 13th at 6 pm at the Kuopio Music Centre, audience will witness the rising talent of cellist Ivan Karizna, who will perform Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ever-charming Rococo Variations. Under the baton of conductor Mihhail Gerts, the program also features an orchestral suite based on Estonian themes by renowned Estonian composer Eduard Tubin. The evening concludes with the lush harmonies of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6.

Estonian conductor Mihhail Gerts captivated the musicians of the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra during his previous visit in 2022. On his return visit on November 13th, he brings with him a suite by his homeland’s celebrated composer Eduard Tubin. Since 2021, Gerts has served as the artistic director of the TubIN Festival, which he also founded to promote Tubin’s music.

The evening’s soloist, cellist Ivan Karizna, will interpret the audience favorite Rococo Variations by Tchaikovsky with emotion and finesse. These elegant and proportionally beautiful variations have become a staple in the cello repertoire. Karizna represents two distinct schools of cello playing: until the age of 17, he studied in the traditional Russian school, after which he continued his education at the Paris Conservatory and later at the Kronberg Academy in Germany. During these years, he won prizes in prestigious competitions such as the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, and the Guilhermina Suggia Competition in Porto.

The concert concludes with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6, which is performed less frequently than the composer’s other symphonies. Nevertheless, Symphony No. 6 is quintessential Dvořák: full of delightful melodies and sonorous harmonies that are a treat for the ears.

Before the concert, at 5:00 pm at the Light Hall, the orchestra’s spring 2026 program will be announced. The event continues at 5:30 pm with a pre-concert talk open to all, where attendees can meet the evening’s artists.

Tickets: 33 € / 27 € senior citizens and groups min. 20 persons / 11 € children under the age of 16 and students / 4 € concert day discount ticket for students and young people under the age of 20 (available for purchase on the concert day at the Kuopio Music Centre Ticket Office). Prices include the Kuopio Music Centre service fee 2 € / ticket. The service fees vary depending on the place of purchase.

The Copilot AI service was used in the production of this text.

KUOPIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Producer & Publicity Manager Elina Prepula, tel. 044 718 2364, elina.prepula(at)kuopio.fi
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