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Concert-Series
In the 20th century, the harpsichord, once regarded merely as a relic of bygone eras, underwent a profound metamorphosis and found a champion in Wanda Landowska, the pioneering concert harpsichordist. Through Landowska's exquisite artistry and discerning interpretations, the harpsichord's expansive capabilities were unveiled, and the instrument began to shed its antiquated persona by venturing beyond its historic confines. Emerging into the 21st century, its modern relevance has been further anchored, largely owing to pioneering advocates like Mahan Esfahani, Winner of the 2022 Wigmore Hall Prize, BBC New Generation Artist (2008-2010), Borletti-Buitoni Prize winner (2009), nominated for Gramophone's Artist of the Year (2014, 2015, 2017) and winner of the 2023 OPUS KLASSIC concert recording and concerto performance, and his remarkable contribution in commissioning an impressive array of works from eminent composers such as Bent Sørensen, George Lewis, Miroslav Srnka, Anahita Abbasi, Sunleif Rasmussen, Gary Carpenter, Jinwook Jung, Arshia Samsaminia, Daniel Kidane, Laurence Osborn, Michael Berkeley, Poul Ruder, Elena Kats-Chernin, Francisco Coll, Marc Yeats, Brett Dean, and Gavin Bryars among others, proving its adaptability within contemporary music. Today, the harpsichord stands not merely as a bridge between musical epochs but as an emblem of its ceaseless evolution, gracefully intertwining past legacies with the vibrant tapestries of the present.
Debut.
Intertwined Distances is a mesmerizing exploration of connections across time and space. Takuya Imahori's new version of "De Avibus Dialogum (Dialog of the Birds)" commissioned by the Chamber Orchestra Elbe initially premiered by Ensemble Novecento in 2017 transcends temporal boundaries as myriad birds, transcending both time and borders and perched on the same branch, engage in a timeless conversation. Manuel de Falla's "Concerto for Harpsichord" written in 1926, commissioned by the pioneering first concert harpsichordist, Wanda Landowska, stands as a visionary bridge, infusing the harpsichord with the vitality of the 20th century while honoring its historical legacy. Anahita Abbasi's "Intertwined Distances" commissioned and premiered by Mahan Esfahani in 2018, challenges perceptions by exploring various dimensions of distance, both literal and abstract, and reflects the ever-changing nature of distances in our world. Farzia Fallah's "This Burning Mass - A Feast of Colour" commissioned by the Britten Pears Arts in 2022 beautifully embodies the idea of connecting seemingly disparate elements to create a harmonious whole through energy. Lastly, Gary Carpenter's "Concerto for Harpsichord and Six Players" commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society for Mahan Esfahani and the Ensemble 10/10, premiered under the direction of Yalda Zamani in 2019 mirrors the artistic evolution of Piet Mondrian, connecting his distinct artistic phases through music.