So, you think you've heard the Tchaik One, eh? Well, think again. Better yet, stop by Boettcher Hall to hear it played like never before.

The First Piano Concerto of Tchaikovsky stands as one of the seminal works of the literature, having been pounded out by every pianist from here to there. Last season at Boettcher, it was delivered by no less than Van Cliburn - the man who became an international superstar with it.

Now, make room for Natasha Paremski. She may be all of 18 and cute as a button, but she is a formidable artist.

She did much more than play all 6 zillion notes before an ecstatic Colorado Symphony audience on Friday. She personalized the Tchaikovsky, making it sound like music, instead of the mindless percussion extravaganza many pianists seem to favor.

With an attentive Jeffrey Kahane on the podium, Paremski displayed a remarkable dynamic range, effortlessly shifting from gentle pianissimo to explosive fortissimo in a heartbeat - never losing the music's melodic intent or its inner pulse.

Responding to the cheers, she delivered a Chopin Etude in encore.

The pianist (still studying at Mannes College of Music) has impressed CSO audiences before, and doubtless will again. She appears poised to become a star of the highest order.

Paremski's performance almost overshadowed another remarkable work from Russia, Rachmaninoff's rarely heard choral symphony, The Bells. Here is passionate music that never wears out its welcome.

Drawing first-rate playing from the orchestra (highlighted by Jason Lichtenwalter's honey-sweet English horn solo) and top-notch singing from Duain Wolfe's CSO Chorus, Kahane provided crisp leadership that brought out every glistening splash of color in this setting of Poe's energetic poetry.

Singing (impressively) in Russian, the Chorus expertly delivered the dense, heavily chromatic writing - driving the music lustily, or purring it softly.

Fine work from the soloists: soprano Oksana Krovytska, tenor Richard Clement and bass-baritone Nathan Berg. While not Rachmaninoff's greatest hit, it does beg to be heard more often.

Kahane and the CSO opened the program with British composer Thomas Adès' evocative . . . but all shall be well - its quirky title borrowed from T.S. Eliot. Beginning (appropriately) with the tinkle of bells, this intriguing work unfolded in natural fashion, relying on a drunken little ascending and descending scale. An inviting work by an important young music-maker.

Colorado Symphony

• Grade: A-

• When and where: repeated at 7:30 p.m. today in Beottcher Hall, 14th and Curtis streets

• Cost: $15 to $65

• Information: 303-623-7876

Marc Shulgold is the music and dance writer. Shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5296