April at the San Diego Symphony shines a spotlight on the expressive power and versatility of the piano, as a remarkable lineup of artists explores the instrument’s voice across genres—from jazz to contemporary innovation, Romantic lyricism, and Beethovenian grandeur—all brought to life on the Symphony’s concert grand Steinway piano.

We open the month with the season finale of the Jazz @ The Jacobs series on April 4, featuring acclaimed jazz pianist Josh Nelson. Joined by a stellar trio—Nicole McCabe, Luca Alemanno, and Joe LaBarbera—Nelson brings fresh energy to Time Out, the groundbreaking, record-setting album by Dave Brubeck. In these iconic works, the piano plays a central role—introducing and transforming the main motifs while shaping each piece’s unmistakable character. As All About Jazz writes, “Nelson is a creative force to be reckoned with.” In this week's interview with Jazz 88 FM’s Dave Drexler, pianist Josh Nelson and drummer Joe LaBarbera talked about the coming performance: "We are not looking to reproduce this record note for note," says Nelson, "but there are some really iconic and rhythmic ideas in the solos we are trying to incorporate here...we are trying to bring the spirit of this classic record to Jacobs Music Center."

Two of this month’s featured soloists, Conrad Tao and Ingrid Fliter, also share a special connection as Steinway & Sons artists—musicians who bring their distinctive voices to life with remarkable depth, color, and nuance.

Tao and guest conductor Robert Spano open the symphonic programs of the month on April 10 and 11 with John Adams’ Century Rolls, a work that blurs the boundaries between past and present. Inspired by early 20th-century player piano recordings, Adams creates a sound world that is ghostly, propulsive, and vividly modern. Tao spoke about the piece with ClevelandClassical.com in 2023: “When playing the three-movement concerto, Tao often finds himself thinking about electronic dance music and its unique, expressive pulse. ‘I’m also tapping into a kind of mechanical sound world — that insistent, visceral brightness of a player piano.’” He also feels the title suggests, “time rolls on frighteningly fast. And technological development is one area where we start to feel history and time passing us by in an anxious way.”

Later, on April 18 and 19, conductor Anna Sułkowska-Migoń makes her San Diego Symphony debut alongside Ingrid Fliter, who returns as soloist to perform Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor. A longtime champion of Chopin’s music, Fliter has described the concerto as “written from the heart and to the heart,” (Urban Milwaukee) bringing an expressive approach to a work known for its intimacy. Her interpretation has also drawn critical praise, with BBC Music Magazine noting her “luminous tone” and a slow movement that is “beautifully poised and poetic.”

The month culminates in a monumental masterpiece: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Emperor, performed by the remarkable young pianist Alexandra Dovgan on April 24 and 25. Already captivating audiences worldwide, Dovgan brings a rare combination of maturity, insight, and technical brilliance to the work. Her playing, often noted for its depth and expressive clarity, meets Beethoven’s sweeping scale with power and poetic sensitivity. This concert also marks the San Diego Symphony debut of guest conductor Trevor Pinnock. A celebrated conductor and distinguished keyboard artist, Pinnock shares a unique musical rapport with Dovgan, making this collaboration especially compelling. 

From the rhythmic ingenuity of jazz to contemporary soundscapes, Romantic poetry, and Classical grandeur, April’s piano performances offer a richly textured journey—one that celebrates not only the brilliance of these artists, but the enduring expressive power of the piano itself.

Steinway & Sons is the official piano of the San Diego Symphony.