Francesco returns to South Korea in June for two concerts with the Seoul Philharmonic and conductor Asher Fisch on 5 and 6 June. After Fisch opens the concert with Schumann’s Genoveva Overture, Francesco joins the orchestra for two rarely played pieces for piano and orchestra: Cesar Franck’s Variations symphoniques and Richard Strauss’ Burleske. Strauss composed the piece at the age of 21 but initially neglected the work. However, it eventually became one of his favourite works.
The following week, Francesco returns to Germany for four concerts with the NDR Elbphilharmonie. Performing under the baton of Pablo Heras-Casado, Francesco performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.2 in Hamburg on 14 and 17 June, as well as in Neubrandenburg and Lubeck on 15 and 16 June.