Israeli Pianist Inon Barnatan Maintains Strong NYC Presence in Inaugural Season as New York Phil’s First Artist-in-Association
Hailed by the New Yorker’s Alex Ross as “a player of uncommon sensitivity,” Inon Barnatan cements his reputation as one of New York City’s leading pianists this season, not only with the launch of his unprecedented new three-year appointment as Artist-in-Association at the New York Philharmonic, but also with high-profile engagements at such key Manhattan venues as Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and SubCulture. The Avery Fisher Career Grant-winner also makes important debuts with orchestras including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France, Vancouver Symphony, and Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec; undertakes repeat engagements with the Atlanta and Milwaukee Symphonies; makes his solo recital debut in the Celebrity Series of Boston; and gives the world premiere of a new commission from Sebastian Currier at London’s Wigmore Hall. Equally celebrated as a chamber musician, the Israeli pianist makes multiple appearances with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and heads back on tour with his regular duo recital partner, cellist Alisa Weilerstein.
Barnatan explains:
“This is a very exciting season for me. Not only do I get to do what I love most – a true mix of concertos, recitals, chamber music, great masterworks and new music – this season I get to do all these things on my own doorstep, in New York City. Starting my new multi-year relationship with the New York Philharmonic is obviously an immense highlight for me. Beyond that, I’ve always loved the diversity of the music life in New York, and being able to play a large variety of music in such different venues with wonderful colleagues, all in one of the world’s great cultural centers and in a span of a few months, is exhilarating.”
When the New York Philharmonic created its Artist-in-Association position, a major new partnership designed to foster a deeper and more rounded relationship between soloist and orchestra, Barnatan proved the natural first choice. As Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert explains, “He’s a complete artist: a wonderful pianist, a probing intellect, passionately committed, and a capable contemporary-music pianist as well.” The prestigious appointment features multiple concerto collaborations, and Barnatan makes his subscription debut under Gilbert’s leadership in concerts at Lincoln Center (March 19, 20 & 24) and in Greenvale, NY (March 21), playing the G-major Concerto of Ravel, in whose music the pianist recently impressed the New York Times with the “furious flair of his live rendition.” The Artist-in-Association role also offers prominent chamber collaborations with members of the orchestra, and the coming season sees him join Philharmonic musicians and Alisa Weilerstein for a chamber program of Dvorák and Martinu at New York’s 92nd Street Y (Dec 7) and perform Dvorák’s Piano Quintet with members of the orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall (Feb 7).
Maintaining his strong New York City presence, the pianist makes his solo recital debut at downtown hotspot SubCulture, with a program featuring the New York premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s whirling tissue of light (Sep 23). It was Barnatan who commissioned the work, of which his world premiere performance was pronounced “outstanding” (The Times of London). His other upcoming Manhattan dates comprise an all-Brahms chamber recital with the Jerusalem String Quartet at the 92nd Street Y (Oct 23, 25 & 29), and a pairing of Schubert with Chausson in company with violinist Ani Kavafian and other members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall (Nov 16). The program, which they reprise at Chicago’s Harris Theater the following day, showcases Barnatan’s exceptional way with Schubert, which has already drawn comparisons with Schnabel; according to BBC Music magazine, his 2013 recording of the Viennese composer’s late sonatas reveals “superior playing, in which penetrating musicianship, compelling interpretive insight, and elegant pianism achieve near perfect equilibrium.”
Just across the Hudson River, the pianist tours Chopin’s First Piano Concerto with the New Jersey Symphony and Stefan Sanderling (Nov 28–30). And further afield, he performs orchestral repertoire ranging from concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky to Andrew Norman’s Suspend, in collaboration with such eminent conductors as James Gaffigan, Susanna Mälkki, Matthias Pintscher, Bramwell Tovey, and Edo de Waart. Barnatan also looks forward to making his Boston “Celebrity Series” solo recital debut (Dec 10), while for his return to London’s Wigmore Hall, where he is a frequent performer, he juxtaposes signature works by Schubert, Franck, and Ravel with the world premiere of Glow, a new commission from Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Sebastian Currier (May 24). This marks the latest in a succession of contemporary compositions commissioned by the pianist, who also recently debuted a new work by Avner Dorman.
A dedicated chamber musician who has been recognized with the Andrew Wolf Memorial Award, Barnatan’s upcoming chamber highlights include a five-city U.S. duo recital tour with his frequent and longtime collaborator, MacArthur Award-winning cellist Alisa Weilerstein, with whom he is especially “temperamentally well matched” (New York Times). Culminating with an appearance in Boston’s “Celebrity Series,” the tour features the world premiere performances of a new work by 2014 Grammy Award nominee Joseph Hallman (April 16–May 1).
Details of Inon Barnatan’s upcoming engagements are provided below, and more information is available at the artist’s web site: www.inonbarnatan.com.
Inon Barnatan: 2014-15 engagements
Sep 10
London, UK
Central Synagogue
International Concerts Series
Solo recital: “Wide Awake Schubert”
SCHUBERT: Sonata for Piano in A major, D 959
SCHUBERT: Sonata for piano in B-flat, D 960
AVNER DORMAN: Nocturne insomniaque (2007)
Sep 12
Toulouse, France
Festival Piano aux Jacobins
Solo recital (debut)
BACH: Toccata in E minor, BWV 914
FRANCK: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, M 21
BARBER: Sonata for Piano in E flat minor, Op. 26
SCHUBERT: Sonata for Piano in A major, D 959
Sep 20
Lexington, KY
University of Kentucky (Singletary Concert Hall)
Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra / Scott Terrell
TCHAIKOVSKY: Concerto for Piano No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Sep 23
New York, NY
SubCulture
Solo recital
BACH: Toccata in E minor, BWV 914
MENDELSSOHN: Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14
MATTHIAS PINTSCHER: whirling tissue of light (New York premiere)
FRANCK: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, M 21
BARBER: Sonata for Piano in E flat minor, Op. 26
Sep 27 & 29
Vancouver, Canada
Orpheum Theatre
Vancouver Symphony / Bramwell Tovey
BRAHMS: Concerto for Piano No 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Oct 1–10
European recitals/chamber music
Oct 16
Eugene, OR
Hult Performing Arts Center
Eugene Symphony Orchestra / Danail Rachev
BEETHOVEN: Concerto for Piano No 4 in G, Op. 58
Oct 23, 25, 29
New York, NY
92nd Street Y: Kaufmann Concert Hall
Recital with Jerusalem String Quartet
BRAHMS: Sonata for Viola and Piano No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 120, No. 2
BRAHMS: Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
BRAHMS: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
BRAHMS: Quintet for Piano and Strings in F minor, Op. 34
Nov 3
Chicago, IL
Harris Theater
Solo recital
Nov 6
Birmingham, AL
Brock Recital Hall
Samford University
Solo recital
Nov 8 & 9
Pullman, WA
Washington Idaho Symphony
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1
Nov 15
Madison, NJ
Drew University
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
CHAUSSON: Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in G minor, Op. 3
SCHUBERT: Quintet for Piano and Strings in A, D 667/Op. 114 “Trout”
With: Ani Kavafian (violin); Areta Zhulla (violin); Lawrence Power (viola); Nicholas Canellakis (cello); Gary Hoffman (cello); David J. Grossman (double bass)
Nov 16
New York, NY
Alice Tully Hall
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
CHAUSSON: Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in G minor, Op. 3
SCHUBERT: Quintet for Piano and Strings in A, D 667/Op. 114 “Trout”
With: Ani Kavafian (violin); Areta Zhulla (violin); Lawrence Power (viola); Nicholas Canellakis (cello); Gary Hoffman (cello); David J. Grossman (double bass)
Nov 17
Chicago, IL
Harris Theater
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
CHAUSSON: Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in G minor, Op. 3
SCHUBERT: Quintet for Piano and Strings in A, D 667/Op. 114 “Trout”
With: Ani Kavafian (violin); Areta Zhulla (violin); Lawrence Power (viola); Nicholas Canellakis (cello); Gary Hoffman (cello); David J. Grossman (double bass)
Nov 24
Berlin, Germany
Konzert-Direktion Adler
With Alisa Weilerstein
Nov 28–30
Tour with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra / Stefan Sanderling
CHOPIN: Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E minor, B 53/Op. 11
Nov 28: Princeton, NJ (Princeton University)
Nov 29: Newark, NJ (New Jersey Performing Arts Center)
Nov 30: New Brunswick, NJ (State Theatre)
Dec 3
Quebec City, Canada
Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec / Hugh Wolff
BEETHOVEN: Concerto for Piano No. 4 in G, Op. 58
Dec 7
New York, NY
92nd Street Y: Kaufmann Concert Hall
With Alisa Weilerstein, cello; musicians of the New York Philharmonic
DVORÁK: Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat, Op. 87
MARTINU: La Revue de Cuisine (“The Kitchen Revue”), Suite for Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Violin, Cello, and Piano, H 161
Dec 10
Boston, MA
Pickman Hall
Celebrity Series of Boston
Solo recital
Jan 14
Belfast, UK
Ulster Orchestra / Rafael Payare
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1
Jan 22, 24, 25
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra / Matthias Pintscher
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24
Jan 29
Stockholm, Sweden
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic / Susanna Mälkki
TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1
Feb 7
New York, NY
New York Philharmonic
DVORÁK: Piano Quintet
Feb 12
Paris, France
Orchestre National de France
Presence Festival
Feb 18
Winnipeg, Canada
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra / Anne Manson
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2
Feb 22
Beacon, NY
Howland Cultural Center
Howland Chamber Music Circle, Piano Festival
Solo recital
BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 31, Op. 110
BARBER: Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 26
FRANCK: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, M 21
BRAHMS Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24
March 12 & 13
Ottawa, Canada
Southam Hall
National Arts Centre/ Matthias Pintscher
RAVEL: Concerto in G
March 15
Ottawa, Canada
National Gallery of Canada
National Arts Centre
Chamber recital
FRANCK: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, M 21
DVORÁK: Piano Quintet in A, Op. 81
March 19, 20, 24
New York, NY
Avery Fisher Hall
New York Philharmonic / Alan Gilbert
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G
March 21
Greenvale, NY
Tilles Center
New York Philharmonic / Alan Gilbert
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G
March 28
Germantown, TN
Germantown Performing Arts Center
IRIS Orchestra Residency
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1
March 29
Beverly Hills, MI
Seligman Performing Arts Center
Chamber Music Society of Detroit
Solo recital: “Four Great Fugal Finales”
Beethoven: Sonata in A-flat, Op. 110
Barber: Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 26
Franck: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, M 21
Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel
April 10 & 11
Milwaukee, WI
Uihlein Hall – Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra / Edo de Waart
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
April 16–May 1
Duo recital tour with Alisa Weilerstein, cello
BACH: Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 2 in D, BWV 1028
PROKOFIEV: Sonata in C, Op. 119
JOSEPH HALLMAN: New work
SCHUBERT: Fantasia in C, D. 934
April 16: Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University
April 17: Charlotte, NC – Carolina Concerts Association
April 18: San Juan, PR
April 26: Sonoma State University, Green Music Center
May 1: Boston, MA, “Celebrity Series,” Jordan Hall
May 24
London, UK
Wigmore Hall
Solo recital
Schubert: Piano Sonata in G, D. 894
Franck: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for Piano, M 21
Sebastian Currier: Glow (world premiere)
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
May 26
Calgary, Canada
Jack Singer Concert Hall
Esther Honens International Piano Competition
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