Beethoven & Rachmaninov alongside Original Symphonic Works by Carey Tan
Karlovarský Symphony Orchestra
Atrium Concert Hall · Czech Republic
7 August 2026 · 8:00 PM
AN EXTRAORDINARY MUSICAL ENCOUNTER
Brothers in Harmony: Where Classics Meet New Voices brings the Philharmonia Orchestra together with Carey & Kevin Music Brothers for a rare and compelling evening of symphonic music.
At the heart of the programme are two original symphonies by award-winning composer Carey Tan — The Cries of War and The Rise and Fall of AI Humanity — works of striking scale, vivid orchestral colour, and bold imagination. These are set alongside two of the most celebrated piano concertos in the repertoire: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, performed by pianist Kevin Tan.
This is an evening where powerful musical storytelling meets virtuosity — where newly imagined symphonic worlds share the stage with timeless masterpieces. A concert that offers both discovery and depth, inviting audiences to experience the emergence of a new musical voice alongside the enduring brilliance of the classical tradition.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Kevin Tan – Pianist
Kevin Tan is an internationally active pianist whose concerto repertoire encompasses the major works of Beethoven, Rachmaninov, and the Romantic canon. A multiple prize-winner in international piano competitions, he has earned recognition for both his technical command and musical maturity.
In recent years, Kevin has toured internationally, giving over thirty solo recitals and concerto performances across the UK, China, Germany, Austria, Norway, Romania and the Czech Republic. He has appeared at distinguished venues including the Berlin Philharmonie and the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, performing major concerto repertoire with orchestras across Europe. His interpretations are noted for their structural clarity, architectural insight, and expressive depth.
Carey Tan – Composer · Pianist · Marimbist
Carey Tan is a composer whose symphonic works have received international acclaim, earning over ten top prizes in international composition competitions. At the age of 11, he became the youngest composer in the UK to receive a university-level Diploma in Composition.
His large-scale orchestral works have been performed at some of Europe’s most renowned venues, including the Berlin Philharmonie and the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein.
His music engages with contemporary themes such as conflict, technological transformation, and the future of civilisation, while remaining firmly grounded in symphonic architecture, motivic development, and a rich and distinctive orchestral palette. As both composer and performing musician, he brings a unique and compelling perspective to the symphonic tradition.
Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the United Kingdom’s leading symphony orchestras, renowned for its artistic excellence, distinguished conductors, and wide-ranging repertoire spanning the classical canon to contemporary works.
PROGRAMME
Part I
Carey Tan: Symphony No. 2 The Cries of War
Carey Tan, marimba
I. Shadows of Misery
II. Reflection
III. The Pact
A symphonic meditation on conflict and remembrance, moving from devastation toward reflection and, ultimately, the possibility of reconciliation.
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”
Kevin Tan, piano
A monumental concerto that embodies grandeur, structural clarity, and heroic lyricism — one of the defining achievements of the Classical concerto tradition.
Part II
Carey Tan: Symphony No. 3 The Rise and Fall of AI Humanity
Carey Tan, marimba
I. Construction of AI Civilisation & Humanity
II. Dwelling in Reality
III. Nature and the Universe
IV. Collapse and Destruction
V. Ashes and Echoes
A five-movement symphonic narrative exploring technological emergence, societal expansion, imbalance, and collapse. The work reflects on humanity’s relationship with artificial intelligence and the fragile equilibrium between progress and responsibility.
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Kevin Tan, piano
A masterpiece of Romantic intensity and sweeping lyricism, combining virtuosic brilliance with profound emotional resonance.
AN EVENING OF TRADITION AND RENEWAL
This concert brings together two pillars of the piano concerto repertoire with contemporary symphonic works that speak directly to the present. Rather than contrast for effect, the programme reveals continuity — how new orchestral voices emerge from, and respond to, the great traditions that shaped them.
