CONCERT NEWS
January 11, 2024

WWFM Broadcast of “Infinite Staircase”

Get ready to experience the broadcast premiere of “Infinite Staircase,” our September 2023 concert at National Sawdust with pianist Han Chen.

WWFM New Jersey will be streaming the live concert recording, as part of their In Concert series, hosted by WWFM Music Director, David Osenberg. Here’s when you can listen:

  • Monday, January 15, 2024 (8pm ET)

  • Saturday, January 20, 2024 (1pm ET)

“Infinite Staircase” featured 18 world premieres after Ligeti’s iconic piano études, co-commissioned by Metropolis and Han Chen. Each new work from a diverse cohort of composers was paired with Ligeti’s 18 études for a solo piano recital at National Sawdust on September 24, 2023.

The sold-out concert received critical praise:

  • The New York Times: “This young pianist revels in modern and cutting-edge pieces... an intriguing coterie of up-and-coming compositional talents.”

  • I Care If You Listen: “A marathon of canonical music and new works that displayed exquisite programming, stupendous technique, and forward-thinking expansion of classical music’s best traditions.”

  • The Village Voice: “It’s rare to catch a world premiere. It’s unheard of to catch 18 in one night.”

The project was inspired by Han Chen’s studio album of Ligeti works and the Metropolis video interview series, Migration Music, hosted by Han Chen and featuring some of the composers involved in the “Infinite Staircase” project.

Han Chen performing at National Sawdust in September 2023.