Inon Barnatan Champions New Fletcher Concerto, Debuts with London Philharmonic, Tours with Minnesota Orchestra in 2017-18
Having just made a late summer debut at the BBC Proms playing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with conductor Kazushi Ono and the BBC Symphony, Inon Barnatan – “one of the most admired pianists of his generation” (New York Times) – opens the 2017-18 season performing a new concerto by Alan Fletcher with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. Barnatan gave the world premiere of the piece earlier in the summer at the Aspen Music Festival, and later in the season he will play it again with the Atlanta Symphony. On New Year’s Eve the pianist performs Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto in Minneapolis with the Minnesota Orchestra led by Osmo Vänskä; a Midwest tour follows, culminating at Chicago‘s Symphony Center. Barnatan also returns to London in October for a debut with the London Philharmonic playing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, and plays Beethoven’s Third Concerto for his debut with the Helsinki Philharmonic. He returns to the Cincinnati Orchestra to perform the notoriously difficult Barber Piano Concerto; plays a complete cycle of Beethoven Concertos in Columbus; and plays Schumann in Denmark, Rachmaninov in Norway and Brahms in the Netherlands, among other orchestral appearances. Among his solo recital destinations are Aspen, London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s 92nd Street Y, and the Vancouver Recital Society. As a chamber musician he will curate and perform in a three-concert Schubert festival for La Jolla Music Society; play two concerts with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York and Chicago; and tour the U.S. and Europe with his frequent recital partner, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, including concerts at Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall. Finally, he joins soprano Renée Fleming in recital at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and at Carnegie Hall, with the latter concert featuring the world premiere of a Carnegie-commissioned work by Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw.
Barnatan’s passion for contemporary music is on display this season as he plays the new piano concerto written for him by Alan Fletcher in three separate performances: the world premiere which he gave in August at the Aspen Music Festival, of which Fletcher is President and CEO; a season-opening account of the work with the commissioning Los Angeles Philharmonic led by Ken-David Masur at the Hollywood Bowl; and a performance with the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Robert Spano, who also conducted the Aspen Festival Orchestra for the piece’s premiere. The pianist has commissioned and performed many works by living composers, including premieres of works by Thomas Adès, Sebastian Currier, Avner Dorman, Matthias Pintscher, Alasdair Nicolson, Andrew Norman and others. Former New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert, under whose leadership Barnatan recently recorded the exceptionally challenging solo piano part in Messiaen’s Des canyons aux étoiles, considers him “the complete artist: a wonderful pianist, a probing intellect, passionately committed, and a capable contemporary-music pianist as well.”
When Barnatan played Rachmaninov’s First Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra in the spring of 2016, Minnesota’s Pioneer Press declared the concert “best of season,” and found that while the pianist was more than a match for the “flamboyance and spectacle” of the piece, “he never pushed the schmaltz meter into the red, as he found welcome gentleness in the slow movement — engaging in heartfelt dialogues with the winds — and bubbling delicately on the flowing finale.” For his return engagement this season he plays another staple of the Russian repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, in a New Year’s Eve performance led by Osmo Vänskä, before joining the orchestra for a tour in Indiana and Illinois that culminates at Chicago’s Symphony Center.
A consistent critical favorite in the works of Beethoven, Barnatan is in the midst of recording all five of the master’s piano concertos with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Alan Gilbert. He debuts with the London Philharmonic this season with two performances of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto, first in London under the baton of Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the next day led by Eugene Tzigane in Brighton. This is part of a big season of London appearances for the pianist: besides his BBC Proms and London Philharmonic debuts, he appears three times at Wigmore Hall, in both solo and collaborative recitals. The pianist also performs Beethoven’s Third Concerto in his debut with the Helsinki Philharmonic, conducted by Alexander Shelley. In the words of the Washington Post, his performance of the latter piece last season for his “brilliant” Baltimore Symphony debut under Vasily Petrenko “surpassed all expectations,” and the “poignant solos brought tears to the eyes because they were so tenderly wrought.”
Barnatan’s longstanding collaboration with cellist Alisa Weilerstein yielded a critically lauded album of Rachmaninov and Chopin sonatas in 2015. As Gramophone said in its review, “It’s a bold musician who dares to duet with Alisa Weilerstein. So much is out of the question: complacency, clichés, safety nets … Inon Barnatan fits the bill.” This fall the two embark on a duo recital tour, juxtaposing the world premiere of Through Your Fingers, a Carnegie co-commission from Grammy Award-winner Steven Mackey, with Mendelssohn’s impassioned cello sonata. At Carnegie Hall and in Texas, they complete the program with the sole cello sonatas of Britten and Rachmaninoff; at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, with those of Chopin and Debussy. European dates follow in November, including a recital at London’s Wigmore Hall that again features the Mackey, along with both of Brahms’s cello sonatas and the Suite italienne from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.
Barnatan has also developed a reputation as an especially inventive programmer of solo recitals. He performs a centuries-spanning recital program with repertoire from Bach and Handel to Ligeti and Thomas Adès at the Vancouver Recital Society this season, as well as a series of recitals comprising three works all titled Moments Musicaux by Schubert, Rachmaninov and contemporary Israeli composer Avner Dorman. Barnatan performs this program in several U.S. venues, highlighted by a stop at the Kaufmann Concert Hall in New York’s 92nd Street Y. In the spring he returns to La Jolla, California, where he played the La Jolla Music Society Summerfest this past summer, to curate and perform three concerts in March, April and May exploring the late works of Franz Schubert. Barnatan plays one of Schubert’s late piano sonatas on each program, along with a selection of chamber music for which he will be joined by a roster of stellar musicians including violinist Benjamin Beilman, cellists Carter Brey and Clive Greensmith, pianist Garrick Ohlsson, and the Dover Quartet, with which he also collaborated last summer, at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Tenor Robin Tritschler rounds out the list of collaborators, joining Barnatan for Schubert’s posthumously published song collection, Schwanengesang. In the midst of that series, Greensmith and Barnatan also perform in New York and Chicago with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in concerts of Fauré and Beethoven, joined by violinist Augustin Hadelich and violist Matthew Lipman.
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Inon Barnatan: 2017-18 season engagements
Sep 5
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles Philharmonic/ Ken-David Masur
FLETCHER: Piano Concerto (LA Phil commission)
Sep 21 & 23
Rochester, NY
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra/ Ward Stare
GRIEG: Piano Concerto in A minor
Oct 15
Philadelphia, PA
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts – Verizon Hall
Renée Fleming, soprano
BRAHMS: “Ständchen,” Op. 106, No. 1
BRAHMS: “Die Mainacht,” Op. 43, No. 2
BRAHMS: “Mondnacht”
BRAHMS: “Da unten im Tale” from Deutsche Volkslieder, No. 6
BRAHMS: “Meine Liebe ist grün,” Op. 63, No. 5
BRAHMS: “Wiegenlied,” Op. 49, No. 4
BRAHMS: “Vergebliches Ständchen,” Op. 84, No. 4
ANDRÉ PREVIN: Lyrical Yeats
ANDRÉ PREVIN: “I Can Smell the Sea Air” from A Streetcar Named Desire
FAURÉ: Cinq Mélodies “De Venise,” Op. 58: “Mandoline”
FAURÉ: Clair De lune, Op. 46/2
BIZET: Soirée en mer
DELIBES: Les Filles de Cadix
KORNAUTH: Selections from Lieder, Op. 37
R. STRAUSS: Selections from Ariadne auf Naxos
October 16-21: U.S. Tour with Alisa Weilerstein
Oct 16
Philadelphia, PA
Perelman Theater- Kimmel Center
MENDELSSOHN: Cello Sonata in D, Op. 58
DEBUSSY: Cello Sonata
DE FALLA: Suite Populaire Espagnole
CHOPIN: Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65
Oct 17
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall
MENDELSSOHN: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D Major
BRITTEN: Cello Sonata
STEVEN MACKEY: Through Your Fingers (World Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
RACHMANINOFF: Cello Sonata
Oct 19-20
Fort Worth, TX
Kimbell Art Museum
Oct 21
Houston, TX
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
MENDELSSOHN: Cello Sonata No. 2 in D Major
BRITTEN: Cello Sonata
STEVEN MACKEY: Through Your Fingers
RACHMANINOFF: Cello Sonata
Oct 23
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall
Renée Fleming, soprano
BRAHMS: “Ständchen,” Op. 106, No. 1
BRAHMS: “Die Mainacht,” Op. 43, No. 2
BRAHMS: “Mondnacht”
BRAHMS: “Da unten im Tale” from Deutsche Volkslieder, No. 6
BRAHMS: “Meine Liebe ist grün,” Op. 63, No. 5
BRAHMS: “Wiegenlied,” Op. 49, No. 4
BRAHMS: “Vergebliches Ständchen,” Op. 84, No. 4
ANDRÉ PREVIN: Lyrical Yeats
ANDRÉ PREVIN: “I Can Smell the Sea Air” from A Streetcar Named Desire
R. STRAUSS: Selections from Ariadne auf Naxos
KORNAUTH: Selections from Lieder, Op. 37
CAROLINE SHAW: New Work (world premiere; commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
Oct 27
London, UK
London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Andrés Orozco-Estrada
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Oct 28
Brighton, UK
London Philharmonic Orchestra / Eugene Tzigane
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Nov 1-10
European Recitals with Alisa Weilerstein
Nov 2
Celle, Germany
Nov 4
London, UK
Wigmore Hall
BRAHMS: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
BRAHMS: Cello Sonata No. 2 in F, Op. 99
STRAVINSKY: Suite italienne for cello and piano
MACKEY: Through Your Fingers
Nov 5
Gauting, Germany
Nov 18
East Providence, RI
The Vets
Rhode Island Philharmonic / Bramwell Tovey
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1
Nov 23
Aalborg, Denmark
Aalborg Symfoniorkester / Rafael Payare
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto
Nov 28-30: European Recitals
Nov 28
Meran, Italy
Musik Meran
Nov 30
Zagreb, Croatia
Dec 31, Jan 1
Minneapolis, MN
Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra/ Osmo Vänskä
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
Jan 5
New Bedford, MA
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra / Yaniv Dinur
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 3
Jan 11
Trondheim, Norway
Trondheim Symfoniorkester / Guy Braunstein
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 3
Jan 22
London, UK
Wigmore Hall
Jan 23
Bloomington, IN
Minnesota Orchestra/ Osmo Vänskä
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
Jan 25
Urbana, IL
Krannert Center for Performing Arts
Minnesota Orchestra/ Osmo Vänskä
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
Jan 28
Chicago, IL
Symphony Center
Minnesota Orchestra/ Osmo Vänskä
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
Feb 2 & 3
Eindhoven, Netherlands
South Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra/ Hans Graf
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1
Feb 4
Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Askonas Holt
Feb 23 & 24
Columbus, OH
Columbus Symphony / Courtney Lewis
BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Concertos
Feb 27
Aspen, CO
Winter Benefit: supports the Aspen Music Festival and School’s programs
Feb 28
Aspen, CO
Winter Music Recital Series
SCHUBERT: Six Moments Musicaux, D.780
DORMAN: 2 Moments Musicaux
RACHMANINOFF: Six Moments Musicaux, op. 16
March 3
New York, NY
92nd Street Y
SCHUBERT: Six Moments Musicaux, D. 780
AVNER DORMAN: 2 Moments Musicaux
RACHMANINOFF: Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
March 4
Beacon, NY
Howland Cultural Center
SCHUBERT: Six Moments Musicaux, D. 780
AVNER DORMAN: 2 Moments Musicaux
RACHMANINOFF: Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
March 9
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/ Alexander Shelley
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3
March 24
La Jolla, CA
La Jolla Music Society
Qualcomm Hall
SCHUBERT: Fantasy in F Minor for Piano Four-Hands, D.940
SCHUBERT: Sonata in B-Flat Major, D.960
SCHUBERT: Piano Trio in B flat Major, D.898
Benjamin Beilman, violin; Clive Greensmith, cello; Garrick Ohlsson, piano
April 6 & 7
Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/ James Gaffigan
BARBER: Piano Concerto
April 14
La Jolla, CA
Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall
SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata No. 20 in A, D.959
SCHUBERT: Schwanengesang, D.957
Robin Tritschler, tenor
April 22
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Vancouver Recital Society
HANDEL: Chaconne in G Major
J. S. BACH: Allemande (from Partita No. 4)
RAMEAU: Courante (from Suite in A minor)
COUPERIN: L’Atalante
RAVEL: Rigaudon (from Tombeau de Couperin)
LIGETI: Musica ricercata Nos. 10 & 11
BARBER: Fugue (from Piano Sonata Op. 26)
ADÉS: Variations for Blanca
BRAHMS: Variations & Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24
April 25
Hanover, NH
Hopkins Center for the Arts
SCHUBERT: Six Moments Musicaux, D. 780
AVNER DORMAN: 2 Moments Musicaux
RACHMANINOFF: Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
May 6 & 8
New York, NY
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
BEETHOVEN: Trio in C minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 1, No. 3 (1794-95)
FAURÉ: Quartet No. 1 in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 15 (1876-79)
Augustin Hadelich, violin; Matthew Lipman, viola; Clive Greensmith, cello
May 7
Chicago, IL
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
BEETHOVEN: Trio in C minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 1, No. 3 (1794-95)
FAURÉ: Quartet No. 1 in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 15 (1876-79)
Augustin Hadelich, violin; Matthew Lipman, viola; Clive Greensmith, cello
May 19 & 20
La Jolla, CA
SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D.958
SCHUBERT: Fantasy for Violin and Piano in C, D.934
SCHUBERT: String Quintet in C, D.956
Benjamin Beilman, violin; Carter Brey, cello; Dover Quartet – Joel Link, Bryan Lee, violins; Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola; Camden Shaw, cello
May 25
London, UK
Wigmore Hall
June 7 & 9
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra / Robert Spano
FLETCHER: Piano Concerto
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© 21C Media Group, August 2017
