The pianist Kirill Gerstein is something of an insider’s tip. Despite the glossy magazine covers and ever-changing artist flavors of the month in classical music, the concert reality is closer to a bit of Alfred “Adi” Preissler’s soccer wisdom: “It’s what happens on the pitch that counts.” And it’s there that Gerstein is a regular: he has a busy calendar, invitations to work with the greatest orchestras, and is widely appreciated by colleagues and connoisseurs. Gerstein exudes a laid-back, slightly amused excitement when talking about his own field; he’s tall and contagiously relaxed in conversation.
