The Asheville Symphony will present the U.S. premiere of Gabriel Prokofiev’s Concerto for Minimoog Synthesizer and Orchestra on Nov. 14, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Asheville. Performances are scheduled for 2 and 8 p.m. as part of Masterworks 3: Double Take, with conductor Darko Butorac and pianist and synthesizer soloist Inna Faliks.
Gabriel Prokofiev’s Concerto for Minimoog Synthesizer and Orchestra makes its U.S. debut as part of Masterworks 3: Double Take
Photo: Alex Avramchuk
Co-commissioned by the Asheville Symphony, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música and Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Prokofiev’s work is the first concerto written for a single monophonic synthesizer in the traditional soloist position. The work places the Minimoog at the center of the orchestra, where its sounds are manipulated and transformed in real time as it interacts with the musicians around it.
The piece’s Asheville performance carries particular resonance. The Minimoog helped launch the electronic music revolution when it was introduced in 1970, and its creator, pioneering synthesizer designer Bob Moog, later made Western North Carolina his home. Today, Asheville remains closely connected to Moog’s legacy through the Bob Moog Foundation, the Moogseum and the continuing presence of Moog-related electronic music culture in the city.
The Bob Moog Foundation will have a Minimoog Playground set up in the Atrium of First Baptist Church for concert attendees to explore at intermission, and before and after the performances.
In conjunction with the Masterworks performances, the Moogseum is offering “Minimoog Through the Ages,” a special temporary exhibit bringing together nine Minimoogs spanning more than five decades of the instrument’s history, from early models of the 1970s to the 2026 reissue. The exhibit runs November 12–16. Joe Silva, author of the The Minimoog Book, will be at the Moogseum throughout the exhibit to answer visitors’ questions. Tickets are available at.
“It is fantastically exciting to see an acoustic ensemble like the Asheville Symphony embrace and feature the power of an electronic musical instrument such as the iconic Minimoog synthesizer,” said Michelle Moog-Koussa, executive director of the Bob Moog Foundation and Moogseum.
“This performance represents a meaningful intersection of Asheville’s musical identity and the symphony orchestra,” said Daniel Crupi, executive director of the Asheville Symphony. “We strive to present work that is uniquely Ashevillian, and that authentically intersects with our musical heritage. Having the opportunity to present the U.S. premiere of this exciting new concerto, especially in partnership with the Bob Moog Foundation and Moogseum, is an honor and a thrill.”
Minimoog Through the Ages
Program
Tickets are available at www.ashevillesymphony.org.
For more information, visit ashevillesymphony.org.
