Since the inception of the commissioning program in the 1990-1991 season, Carnegie Hall has regularly commissioned new works, ranging from solos to large orchestral pieces, and also works for jazz band. This continued throughout the 2010–2011 season, with the performance of 11 new pieces commissioned and co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall.
Composer: Timothy Andres
Work: Trade Winds (New York Premiere)
Performance: Ensemble ACJW, October 12, 2010
Composer: Stephen Hartke
Work: Night Songs for a Desert Flower (New York Premiere, co-commission)
Performance: Brentano String Quartet, November 3, 2010
Composer: Atsuhiko Gondai
Work: Decathexis (US Premiere, co-commission with Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto)
Performance: Saito Kinen Orchestra; Tatsuya Shimono, Conductor, December 14, 2010
Composer: David Bruce
Work: Steampunk (New York Premiere)
Performance: Ensemble ACJW, February 7, 2011
Composer: Brad Mehldau
Work: Love Songs (New York Premiere of expanded version)
Performance: Anne Sofie von Otter, Mezzo-Soprano; Brad Mehldau, Piano, February 19, 2011
Composer: Jake Heggie
Work: The Breaking Waves (World Premiere)
Performance: Joyce DiDonato, Mezzo-Soprano; David Zobel, Piano, March 6, 2011
Composer: Brad Mehldau
Work: Rock 'n' Roll Dances No. 3 & 4 (World Premiere)
Performance: Brad Mehldau, Piano, March 11, 2011
Composer: Thomas Adès
Work: The Four Quarters (World Premiere)
Performance: Emerson String Quartet, March 12, 2011
Composer: Mark Grey
Work: Ātash Sorushān (Fire Angels) Original libretto by Niloufar Talebi (World Premiere, co-commission)
Performance: Jessica Rivera, Soprano; Molly Morkoski, Piano; Ensemble Meme; Donato Cabrera, Conductor, March 29, 2011
Composer: Christopher Rouse
Work: String Quartet No. 3 (New York Premiere, co-commission)
Performance: Calder Quartet, April 15, 2011
Composer: Steve Reich
Work: WTC 9/11 (New York Premiere, co-commission)
Performance: Kronos Quartet, April 30, 2011
Kronos Quartet performs the New York premiere of Steve Reich's WTC 9/11, a Carnegie Hall co-commission. Photo by Stefan Cohen.