Schedule
Berlin Germany, Akademie der Künste
‘Harpsichord and other Keys’
The harpsichord is not the first instrument that comes to mind when we think of progressive, contemporary music. But the mind can deceive. In the 1970s and 1980s, György Ligeti, Iannis Xenakis and Luc Ferrari composed breathtaking works for this instrument.
And new, richly-faceted pieces have also emerged in recent years, many composed for harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, who performs worldwide. These include Intertwined Distances (2018) for harpsichord and electronics by Anahita Abbasi, which he will perform on the second concert day. Although Ligeti and Xenakis are part of the known canon, Luc Ferrari’s Programme Commun for harpsichord and tape recorder is a new discovery.
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Akademie der Künste
Hanseatenweg 10
10557 Berlin
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Prague Czech Republic , Divadlo Archa/ Archa Theatre
Solo Recital: American Music Marathon
As part of the ‘Strings of Autumn’ Festival:
Lou Harrison: Six Sonatas (1943)
Henry Cowell: Set of Four (1961)
Harold Meltzer: Six Toccatas
Walter Piston: Sonata for Violin and Piano (1946), guest: Antje Weithaas
Mel Powell: Recitative and Toccata percossa (1951)
Steve Reich: Piano Phase (1968) harpsichord version authorised for Mahan Esfahani
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Prague Czech Republic , Lobkowicz Palace
Horovitz and Martinu with the Prague Philharmonia
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major BWV 1048
JOHANN CHRISTIAN BACH Harpsichord Concerto in E flat major Op. 7
BOHUSLAV MARTINŮ Deux Pièces pour Clavecin H 244
JOSEPH HOROVITZ Jazz Concerto (1965)
CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL BACH Sinfonie in G major
PRAGUE PHILHARMONIA
Mahan Esfahani – harpsichord
Jan Fišer – artistic leader
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Winston-Salem, North Carolina United Station , Wakeforest University, Brendle Recital Hall
Solo Recital
Thomas Tallis: Felix namque II (1592)
Luciano Berio: Rounds (1968)
Jean-Philippe Rameau, from Pieces de clavessin (1724):
Les tendres plaintes
Le lardon – La boiteuse
L’Entretien des Muses
Les cyclopes
Henry Cowell: Set of Four (1960)
Miroslav Srnka: Triggering, for harpsichord and two E-Bows (2018, for Mahan Esfahani)
J. S. Bach: Partita III in A minor, BWV 827
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Budapest Hungary , Franz Liszt Academy
Solo Recital
Thomas Tallis: Felix namque II (1592)
Luciano Berio: Rounds (1968)
Jean-Philippe Rameau, from Pieces de clavessin (1724):
Les tendres plaintes
Le lardon – La boiteuse
L’Entretien des Muses
Les cyclopes
Henry Cowell: Set of Four (1960)
Miroslav Srnka: Triggering, for harpsichord and two E-Bows (2018, for Mahan Esfahani)
J. S. Bach: Partita III in A minor, BWV 827
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Breda Netherlands , Chassé Theatre
Philharmonie Zuidnederland
J.S. Bach ‘Brandenburg’ Concerto no. 5 BWV 1050 and Henryk Górecki Harpsichord Concerto op. 40
Philharmonie Zuidnederland
Mario Brunello, conductor
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Heerlen Netherlands , Parkstad Limburg Theaters
Philharmonie Zuidnederland
See programme for Nov. 28
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Eindhoven Netherlands , Muziekgebouw Eindhoven
Philharmonie Zuidnederland
See programme for Nov. 28
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Den Bosch Netherlands , Theater aan de Parade
Philharmonie Zuidnederland
See programme for Nov. 28
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New York United States, 92nd Street Y
Recital with Stefan Jackiw, violin
Two adventurous performers highlighted in the 2018-19 season return to 92Y to plumb the breadth and depth of the sonata repertoire for violin and harpsichord.
Stefan Jackiw makes his second consecutive appearance on the Soundspace series, joining Mahan Esfahani—last year, a soloist with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra—for two works in the same key, by two different members of the Bach family. Interspersed are two angular entries into the 20th century harpsichord revival: a Sonata by Czech composer Viktor Kalabis—written for his wife, the noted harpsichordist Zuzana Růžičková—and a nimble Sonatina by Walter Piston.
Bach: Sonata for Violin and Keyboard No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014
Kalabis: Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord, Op. 28
C.P.E. Bach: Violin Sonata in B Minor, H. 512
Piston: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord (1946)
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Munich Germany , Prinzregententheater
Munich Chamber Orchestra/ Ilan Volkov
Münchener Kammerorchester
MAHAN ESFAHANI Cembalo
ILAN VOLKOV Dirigent
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GYÖRGY LIGETI ›Continuum‹ für Cembalo
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU Suite aus der Oper ›Les Boréades‹
FRANK MARTIN Konzert für Cembalo und kleines Orchester
BEAT FURRER ›Xenos III‹ für 2 Schlagzeuger und Streicher
FRANZ SCHREKER Kammersymphonie
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Hong Kong People’s Republic of China , Hong Kong City Hall
J.S. Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos (BWV 1046-51)
Mahan Esfahani returns as a soloist and guest lecturer for Beare’s Premiere Music Festival 2020 with Cho-Liang Lin (violin) and other world-renowned colleagues.
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London United Kingdom, Barbican Centre
‘Evening in the Palace of Reason’
In ‘Evening in the Palace of Reason,’ harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and author James R Gaines explore the story of Bach’s Musical Offering. And no question, it’s a powerful story – of timeless genius pitted against pure reason; of faith against Enlightenment; and two of the greatest figures of world history, king and musician, locked in philosophical combat.
James R Gaines, author of the bestselling account of their meeting, explains the human dimension, but the real miracle is Bach’s music. Performed by harpsichordist-without-limits Mahan Esfahani, it unlocks our weekend-long exploration of music’s most beautiful mind.
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1.30pm, Talk: Introduction by author James R Gaines (Evening in the Palace of Reason)
2.30pm, Concert
J S Bach: Sonata in E minor for violin and continuo BWV 1023
Frederick the Great: Sonata for flute and continuo in C minor
J S Bach: Sonata in E major for violin and harpsichord BWV 1016
C P E Bach: Sonata II in C minor, “Prussian” (1740)
J S Bach: Partita in D minor for solo violin BWV 1004
5pm, Panel discussion: a group of Bach experts dig deep into the contrasting mindsets of J S Bach and Frederick the Great
7.30pm, CONCERT
C P E Bach: Sonata in G minor for viola da gamba and cembalo obbligato
C P E Bach: Sonata for solo flute in A minor
Quantz: Trio Sonata in A minor
J S Bach: The Musical Offering, BWV 1079
PERFORMERS
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Performers
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord & curator
James R Gaines, author
Adam Walker, flute
Antje Weithaas, violin
Richard Boothby, viola da gamba
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San Francisco United States , Herbst Theatre
Recital with Stefan Jackiw, violin
J.S. BACH: Sonata No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1014
VIKTOR KALABIS: Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord
PAULINA ZALUBSKA: New work
C.P.E. BACH: Sonata in B minor
WALTER PISTON: Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord
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