Courtney Bryan Debuts New Piano Concerto in Cincinnati
House of Pianos receives its full orchestral premiere in May with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Louis Langrée, featuring the composer herself as piano soloist.
Composer and pianist Courtney Bryan joins the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Louis Langrée on May 12-13 for the world premiere of the orchestral version of House of Pianos. The chamber version of the piano concerto premiered on February 7 with Bryan, LA Phil New Music Group, and Paolo Bortolameolli.
Bryan says: “My piano concerto, House of Pianos, is a love letter to the many pianists who have inspired me over the years. It is a dream world where I enter a house full of pianos and journey from room to room witnessing gatherings of legendary pianists from various times and places. I join them in reverence and with thanksgiving and joy.”
The concerto, approximately 25 minutes long, progresses through five scenes: “rent party,” “jam session,” “homecoming,” “sanctuary,” and “praise house.”
While she doesn’t quote any pianists directly, Bryan references a multitude of distinctive styles into the piece—from Thomas "Blind Tom” Wiggins and Chopin to Nina Simone, Alice Coltrane, and Sun Ra.
> Listen to Courtney Bryan on LA Phil Upbeat Live Podcast
Other recent major premieres for Courtney Bryan include her work Gathering Song—with a libretto by Tazewell Thompson— on March 2 for bass-baritone soloist Ryan Speedo Green, the New York Philharmonic, and Leslie B. Dunner. The New York Times called the work “thrilling in its polish and expressive range.”
Concert Information
Friday, May 12 at 11am ET
Saturday, May 13 at 7:30pm ET
Music Hall | Cincinnati, OH
More info
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Louis Langrée, conductor
Courtney Bryan, piano
DARIUS MILHAUD La création du monde ("The Creation of the World")
COURTNEY BRYAN House of Pianos (World Premiere of orchestral version)
DUKE ELLINGTON Night Creature
GEORGE GERSHWIN An American in Paris (ed. Clague)
> Further information on Work: House of Pianos
Photo: Taylor Hunter
