Jacob’s Dream to Be Performed in Astana on March 26

On March 26, Baruch Berliner’s Jacob’s Dream will be performed in Astana, Kazakhstan, in a version for viola and symphony orchestra. The piece will be presented by Berlin Opera’s leading violist Andrei Gridchuk and the Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Kirchhoff.

Mr. Gridchuk is an alumnus of the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied under renowned masters such as Yuri Yankelovich, Zinaida Gilels, Boris Belenky, Fyodor Druzhinin, and Yuri Bashmet. His artistry, marked by sophistication and a superb sound, has been praised as a “unique phenomenon among viola performers.”

For many years, Mr. Gridchuk was an assistant to Yuri Bashmet. As a member of the Soloists of Moscow chamber ensemble, he shone at major concert halls around the world. Since 1993, he has held the position of Section Principal Viola at the Berlin Deutsche Oper.

The Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra is the country’s premier musical ensemble. Committed to advancing the finest global traditions of chamber music performance, it comprises highly skilled musicians and international competition laureates who demonstrate brilliant virtuoso technique, a rich sound palette, and a strong sense of ensemble.

Mr. Kirchhoff leads the Kaliningrad State Symphony Orchestra. He is the chief conductor of the Moscow Youth Symphony Orchestra and the artistic director and chief conductor of the Stars of Eurasia festival.

Produced by Nachum Slutzker.