What a delicious concept: The Colorado Symphony's current music director, Jeffrey Kahane, sharing the Boettcher Hall stage with the previous music director (and current conductor laureate), Marin Alsop.

OK, we know - it's happened before. Kahane, an internationally recognized pianist, had teamed with Alsop in 1996 and 1998, while she served as music director.

But this weekend, it's different. Kahane is now in charge, though he'll again be following Alsop's beat as soloist in Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1.

Recently, the two sat down in the conductor's dressing room at Boettcher for a rare get-together.

As they posed for a photographer at the piano, Alsop quipped, "Talk about role reversal. Look - I'm wearing blue and Jeff is wearing pink." His blush nearly matched the hue of his shirt.

• But seriously, who'll be in charge when these two musical heavyweights tackle the Brahms D-minor Concerto in Boettcher?

She said: "Jeff is going to have to do it my way and that's final," Alsop deadpanned. Both enjoyed a laugh. "Actually, this is quite unusual: the past and present music directors together."

He said: "It won't be a problem for me," Kahane observed of his role as soloist. "I can detach myself from the orchestra. It should be fun taking on a different role. "

She said: "And now that it's Jeff's orchestra, I'll have a different relationship with the players, as well."

• Which approach to Brahms will win the day?

He said: "My experience has been that, in most cases, the conductor and soloist each come in with a concept. But I believe the conductor wants to be there for the soloist."

She said: "By the time the audience arrives, this should end up being a sort-of meeting of the minds. We're both collaborative people."

• How will an agreement be reached? Arm wrestling? A shouting match?

He said: "The way it will probably work is, I'll sit down and play, and maybe she'll say something like, 'That's exactly right.' If she doesn't, that's OK. My feelings about a piece are constantly changing, anyway."

She said: "I've found that some artists are unbending, and they'll have musical differences with me. Frankly, I think it's better to have a strong opinion. But our performance of the Brahms won't be a compromise. We want to create something that's greater than the sum of opinions."

• Kahane and Alsop were reminded of a performance of this Brahms concerto by Leonard Bernstein and the famously single-minded Glenn Gould. Before the pianist's entrance, the conductor boldly announced to his audience that the pianist's interpretation differed significantly from his own. We assume that such fireworks won't happen this weekend in Boettcher, since the two protagonists are so alike in temperament. Alsop disagreed.

She said: "Sure, there are superficial similarities between us. But I think we have very different stylistic approaches. We both have the same curiosity about music - but I think (the CSO) selected Jeffrey for his differences."

He said: "It's true. We are very different people. We don't even see each other too often - we really don't interact that much. Mostly by e-mail. That's how this concept started: I e-mailed her and said, 'Would you like to do the Brahms?' It seemed like a great opportunity to do a piece that I love, and to capitalize on Marin's work with Brahms (performing and recording the symphonies in London)."

• When it comes to respect for the D-minor Concerto, completed when Brahms was 26 and hoping to make a big splash, there was no argument about this early work's greatness.

He said: "There is something rough and wild and untamed about it. It's a tormented piece, and clearly Brahms didn't want to smooth things out. The concerto is incredibly daring."

She said: "What I love about Brahms is that he had one foot in the past (as an admirer of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven) and the other one way in the future. He was so self-aware. When you delve into a composer's background, you find details that allow you to get into his or her mind."

• It appears that two conductors can, in fact, co-exist on the same stage. But what about three?

She said: "Rei Hotoda will start the program, conducting two Brahms Hungarian Dances. Rei is the winner of the (Taki Concordia) fellowship that I started. She's the assistant conductor with the Winnepeg Symphony. A terrific talent."

MAESTRO AND MAESTRA

They're both 50, both attended Juilliard and both list music directorships with the Colorado Symphony on their résumés. But there's more - Marin Alsop and Jeffrey Kahane have also collaborated in concert:

• Colorado Symphony - Paul Schoenfield's Four Parables, with Alsop conducting and Kahane as keyboard soloist (1996); Leonard Bernstein's Age of Anxiety, with Alsop conducting, Kahane, pianist (1998); Brahms' Concerto No. 1, with Alsop conducting, Kahane, pianist (2007).

• Eugene Symphony - David Balakrishnan's Little Mouse Jumps (world premiere, commissioned by Alsop), with Kahane conducting, Alsop as violin soloist; the pair also performed the Schoenfield Parables, trading roles as soloist and conductor (1995).

• Santa Rosa Symphony - Balakrishnan's Little Mouse Jumps, Alsop as soloist and Kahane conducting, the two once again trading roles in the Schoenfield (1997).

• Of Note: Marin Alsop conducts music by Brahms and Dvorak, with pianist Jeffrey Kahane and guest conductor Rei Hotoda. The Saturday concert will air live at 7 p.m. on KVOD, 90.1 FM

Shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5296

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