Pianist Han Chen Performs 18 Newly Commissioned Works After Ligeti Etudes
Sunday September 24 — 7:30pm
National Sawdust — 80 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
National Sawdust presents a new project featuring the World Premiere of 18 new works for solo piano, co-commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble and pianist Han Chen, marking the centenary birthday of Hungarian-Austrian composer György Ligeti (1923-2006).
Each of the new works is paired with one of Ligeti’s 18 renowned canonic piano etudes, in a solo recital performance by Han Chen. A diverse cohort of contemporary composers were invited to study a specific Ligeti etude and create a response. Together, all thirty-six works will create a broad and exhilarating showcase of piano performance and composition, along with Metropolis-commissioned ambient music by Phong Tran and lighting design by Dominick Chang.
"Infinite Staircase" is co-commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble and Han Chen, with an additional Metropolis commission for ambient music by Phong Tran.
Klavierhaus and Fazioli Pianoforti are pleased to support Han Chen in his performance at National Sawdust. Klavierhaus is the authorized Fazioli concert service department in the tri-state area.
Additional thanks: Anonymous, Thomas Bown II, Paul and Libby De Rosa, Peter Solmssen, Jennifer West, June Wu, Vivian Wu, and Zander Zhou.
Meet the Composers
About Han Chen
Han Chen has emerged among the new generation of concert pianists as a uniquely fearless performer in a wide variety of musical settings. Gold Medalist at the 2013 China International Piano Competition and a prizewinner at the 2018 Honens International Piano Competition, he has been praised by Gramophone as “impressively commanding and authoritative” and further cited by The New York Times for his “graceful touch,” “rhythmic precision,” and “hypnotic charm,” Chen’s virtuosity is enriched by a probing commitment to new and lesser-known works, as well as the great cornerstones of the piano repertory.
He made his Lincoln Center debut with Riverside Symphony at Alice Tully Hall in December 2022 performing Mozart’s early masterwork, the Piano Concerto No. 9 le Jeunehomme. In addition, he has performed as recitalist throughout Europe, North America, China, and Taiwan. More »
About György Ligeti
György Ligeti was a Hungarian-Austrian composer of contemporary classical music. He has been described as one of the most innovative and influential avant-garde composers of the twentieth century. He was also popularly known for his works featured in Stanley Kubrick films, including The Shining, 2001 A Space Odyssey, and Eyes Wide Shut.
Ligeti’s cycle of 18 études for solo piano were composed from 1985–2001 and considered a major creative achievement following the work of Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, and Scriabin. He expanded the meaning of virtuosity, not only challenging the pianist’s technique, but also lent the succeeding composers his imagination. In the occassion of Ligeti’s centenary, it is as good as it gets for a pianist to work on the études and for composers to write in homage to his legacy. More »
Additional Artists
Recent Press and Related Posts
Ligeti: Complete Piano Études
Han Chen’s fourth solo album, György Ligeti: Piano Études Capriccios, released in May 2023 on Naxos Records and recently selected as one of Gramophone’s Best Classical Albums of 2023.
Migration Music
Explore our ongoing video and podcast interview series hosted by pianist Han Chen. Each episode features conversations with immigrant composers and performances of their works.