Pianist Misha Dichter will bring his 80th birthday tour to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, December 16, at 7:30 p.m., performing Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, with the Palm Beach Symphony under Music Director Gerard Schwarz. The concert, part of the symphony's Masterworks Series, also includes Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's The Snow Maiden Suite, Gabriela Lena Frank's Elegía Andina, and Manuel de Falla's The Three Cornered Hat.
Dichter, a silver medalist at the 1966 International Tchaikovsky Competition, has enjoyed a storied career performing with major orchestras worldwide. His discography spans Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, and many others. After a three-month hiatus in 2007 due to Dupuytren's Disease, he returned to the stage and became a spokesperson for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. He also contributes to publications like The New York Times and released an e-book titled "A Pianist's World in Drawings."
Schwarz praised the Rachmaninoff piece, noting each of the 24 variations has its own character. The program opens with Rimsky-Korsakov's Snow Maiden Suite, which Schwarz described as "exquisite, beautiful music" that envelops the audience. Following intermission, the orchestra performs Frank's Elegía Andina, her first orchestral piece, and de Falla's The Three Cornered Hat in a suite Schwarz expanded to 30 minutes.
Principal cellist Claudio Jaffé will host a Symphony Sessions: Lunch & Learn on December 11, offering insights into the concert. Upcoming Masterworks concerts at the Kravis Center feature cellist Alisa Weilerstein (Jan. 13), violinist Vadim Repin (March 2), pianist Simon Trpčeski (April 19), and pianist Emanuel Ax (May 17). The complete 2025-2026 season schedule is available at palmbeachsymphony.org.
Dichter's performance underscores the enduring appeal of a pianist who has overcome physical challenges and continues to inspire through masterclasses at institutions like Juilliard and Yale. The concert not only celebrates his 80th birthday but also highlights the Palm Beach Symphony's commitment to diverse repertoire and community engagement.
