CELEBRATEDPIANIST AND COMPOSER BRAD MEHLDAU
CONTINUES SEASON-LONG COMPOSER'S CHAIR RESIDENCY
WITH THREE PERFORMANCES IN ZANKEL HALL
This January through March in Zankel Hall, celebrated jazzpianist and composer Brad Mehldau resumes his season-long residency asholder of the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall withthree programs that range from classical repertoire to jazz and pop standards.Over the course of three months, Mehldau presents three distinctiveperformances including a solo piano recital of his own works, interspersed withclassical repertoire and pop and jazz transcriptions; a duo performance withrenowned mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter to include the New Yorkpremiere of the newly expanded work Love Songs; and a program featuringthe world premiere of his new work, Rock 'n' Roll Dances No. 3 & 4—aCarnegie Hall co-commission for two pianos, six winds, and voice—as well asmusic by two up-and-coming composers who Mehldau is championing. Mehldau is thefirst jazz artist to be appointed to the Debs Composer’s Chair since CarnegieHall established the position in 1995.
On Wednesday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. Mehldau performs a solo recital thatexplores his musical personality—an improviser with a deep fascination for theformal architecture of classical music. This program features Mehldau’soriginal works for solo piano plus arrangements of popular works by Radiohead,Jeff Buckley, and Richard Rodgers for which he is known, interspersed with aselection of classical works by Bach, Brahms, and Fauré that have inspired himover the years.
The following month, on Saturday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m., Mehldau reuniteswith acclaimed mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter for the New Yorkpremiere of a newly expanded version of his song cycle Love Songs. Boththe original and expanded version of this work was commissioned by CarnegieHall, and the original’s premiere was held in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stagein spring 2009. The expanded version of Love Songs comprises five poemsby early 20th-century American poet Sara Teasdale, as well as poems by e. e.cummings and Philip Larkin. In addition to this newly expanded work, Mehldauand von Otter will perform traditional lieder and standards by such composersas Brahms, Fauré, Ferré, Sibelius, and Strauss as well as songwriters JohnLennon and Paul McCartney among others.
Finally, on Friday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m., Mehldau concludes his residency witha program entitled Piano Power featuring the world premiere of his newwork Rock 'n' Roll Dances No. 3 & 4—a Carnegie Hall co-commissionfor two pianos, six winds, and voice. Also featured on the program are duopiano selections from larger works by two young American composers—PatrickZimmerli and Timothy Andres. Zimmerli’s Modern Music consists of piecesthat make up the contemporary classical music canon—by Reich, Pärt, Glass,Gorecki, Strauss, Ornette Coleman, and others—in new jazz arrangements thatincorporate an element of improvisation. Andres’s Shy and Mighty(recorded and released by Nonesuch in 2010) comprises 10 interrelated duo pianopieces in its entirety. Joining Mehldau for this final performance aresaxophonists Chris Potter, Greg Tardy, Joshua Redman, ChrisCheek, Joris Roelofs, and Sam Sadigursky; pianists TimothyAndres and Kevin Hays; and vocalist Becca Stevens.Immediately prior to this performance, Mehldau, Andres, and Zimmerli will joinCarnegie Hall’s Director of Artistic Planning Jeremy Geffen for apre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall.
About the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall’s Composer’s Chair was inaugurated in 1995, inviting composerappointees to collaborate with Carnegie Hall on creative aspects of the Hall’sactivities. In 1999, the position was renamed for trustee and chairman emeritusRichard Debs and his wife, Barbara, in honor of their longstanding commitmentto Carnegie Hall and its artistic goals. Beginning in the 2007–2008 season, theDebs Composer’s Chair was reconfigured as a one-year position. Previous holdersof the Carnegie Hall Composer’s Chair are Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1995–1999),Pierre Boulez (1999–2003), John Adams (2003–2007), Thomas Adès (2007–2008),Elliott Carter (2008–2009), and Louis Andriessen (2009–2010).
Program Information
Wednesday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
BRAD MEHLDAU, Piano
JOHANNES BRAHMS Capriccio in F-sharp Minor, Op. 76, No. 1
BRAD MEHLDAU John Boy
JOHANNES BRAHMS Intermezzo in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4
JOHANNES BRAHMS Capriccio in C-sharp Minor, Op. 76, No. 5
BRAD MEHLDAU Capriccio
JOHANNES BRAHMS Capriccio in C Major, Op. 76, No. 8
BRAD MEHLDAU Trailer Park Ghost
JOHANNES BRAHMS Rhapsody in B Minor, Op. 79, No. 1
RADIOHEAD Exit Music (For a Film)
BRAD MEHLDAU Goodbye Storyteller
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Prelude in E-flat Major from The Well-Tempered Clavier,Book I, BWV 852
JOHN LENNON / PAUL MCCARTNEY "Martha My Dear"
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Prelude in C-sharp Major, The Well-Tempered Clavier,Book I, BWV 852
Improvisation inspired by Bach
GABRIEL FAURÉ Nocturne No. 7 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 74
RICHARD RODGERS "My Favorite Things"
JEFF BUCKLEY "Dream Brother"
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Saturday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER, Mezzo-Soprano
BRAD MEHLDAU, Piano
An evening of vocal works from lieder to jazz standards, with songs by Brahms,Fauré, Ferré, Lennon and McCartney, Sibelius, Strauss, and others, plus the NewYork premiere of Mehldau’s expanded Love Songs (commissioned by Carnegie Hall).
This concert is made possible, in part, by The Barbro Osher Pro SueciaFoundation.
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Friday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
BRAD MEHLDAU AND FRIENDS
Brad Mehldau, Piano
Timothy Andres, Piano
Kevin Hays, Piano
Chris Cheek, Tenor Saxophone and Baritone Saxophone
Chris Potter, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, and Flute
Joshua Redman, Tenor Saxophone and Soprano Saxophone
Joris Roelofs, Tenor Saxophone and Bass Clarinet
Sam Sadigursky, Tenor Saxophone, Flute, and Clarinet
Greg Tardy, Tenor Saxophone and Bass Clarinet
Becca Stevens, Vocals
PIANO POWER
PATRICK ZIMMERLI Modern Music
PATRICK ZIMMERLI Generatrix
TIMOTHY ANDRES Selections from Shy and Mighty
The night jaunt
How can I live in your world of ideas?
Pavane (pour un compositeur défunt)
JEROME KERN "All the Things You Are"
KEVIN HAYS Elegia
BRAD MEHLDAU Rock 'n' Roll Dances No. 3 & 4 (World Premiere,co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
Pre-concert talk starts at 6:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall with Brad Mehldau, TimothyAndres and Patrick Zimmerli in conversation with Jeremy Geffen, Director ofArtistic Planning, Carnegie Hall.
This concert is made possible, in part, by the A.L. and Jennie L. LuriaFoundation.
Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
| Ticket Information Tickets, $46 and $54, are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org.
For more information on this and other discount ticket programs, including those for students, Notables members, and Bank of America customers, visit carnegiehall.org/discounts. |
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