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US Premiere of Gerald Barry's Piano Concerto at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

Jul. 01, 2017

US Premiere of Gerald Barry's <em>Piano Concerto</em> at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

On August 11, the US premiere of Gerald Barry’s Piano Concerto takes place at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, led by Music Director Cristian Măcelaru. Making his festival debut, pianist Jason Hardink joins as soloist.

The Telegraph praised Barry's Piano Concerto following its world premiere in 2013, writing that, “like all Barry’s pieces, [his Piano Concerto] was amazing, joyous, exasperating and inexplicable.” Following in the composer's characteristicly exuberant style, the Concerto displays the composer’s knack for musical zeal and unconventionality. Barry notes that “the concerto is itself. Life and the wind take a part.” The wind comes in the form of two wind machines, which make up two thirds of the percussion section. 

Following the US premiere, Thomas Adès conducts Barry’s Piano Concerto with the Britten Sinfonia in the UK premiere on May 22, 2018 at the Barbican Centre as well as the Dutch premiere on May 26, 2018 at the Concertgebouw.

View the score:

This year's Cabrillo Festival also features a performance of Jörg Widmann’s Con Brio alongside Barry's Concerto on August 11. Widmann's work draws on musical characteristics from the fast movements of Beethoven’s 7th and 8th symphonies, transforming them into his own tonal language.

For more information on the composers, click below:

Gerald Barry | Jörg Widmann

Gerald Barry
Piano Concerto (2012)
for piano and orchestra
3(2.pic; 3.pic, afl).2.ca.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-3perc-str
22’

Jörg Widmann
Con brio (2008)
for orchestra
2(2.pic.)2.2-.2.2.0.0-p-str.(14.12.10.8.6)
12’ 

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