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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2018

Tickets & Information: 212/854-7799millertheatre.com

PRESS CONTACTSAleba Gartner, 212/206-1450

aleba@alebaco.com Arlene Kriv, 212/854-1488 ark2125@columbia.edu

Miller Theatre at Columbia UniversitySchool of the Arts

opens its 2018-19 Signature Keys series with

The Well­Tempered Clavier, Paired

featuring

MAHAN ESFAHANI, harpsichord

Esfahani pairs Bach’s treasured work with contemporary pieces by

Berio, Perich, and a world premiere commission by George Lewis

Wednesday, November 7, 2018, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 8, 2018, 8:00 p.m.

Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street)

Tickets: $30–$50; Students with valid ID: $7–$30

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

November 7, 2018, 8:00 p.m. Pre-Concert Talk at 6:30 pm with Mahan Esfahani & George Lewis,

moderated by Melissa Smey, Associate Dean and Executive Director

Mahan Esfahani; Photo by Bernhard Musil / Deutsche Grammophon

From Miller Theatre Executive Director Melissa Smey:“After being dazzled by Mahan Esfahani’s interpretations of Bach’s GoldbergVariations in his Miller Theatre debut last season, we are excited for him to bringBach to our stage once again. Over two nights, he will bring his harpsichord masteryto programs that pair beloved selections from the Well­Tempered Clavier withcompelling new works, for an enthralling juxtaposition of old and new.”

Signature Keys

Wednesday, November 7, 2018, 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 8, 2018, 8:00 p.m.

Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street)

The Well­Tempered Clavier, Pairedfeaturing Mahan Esfahani

Back by popular demand, the exceptionally gifted Mahan Esfahani returns for twoharpsichord recitals featuring J.S. Bach’s treasured Well­Tempered Clavier. Over twonights, Esfahani pairs selections from Bach’s masterpiece with a world premierecommission by George Lewis, as well as contemporary works from Luciano Berio andTristan Perich.

Esfahani was profiled in The New York Times last spring. He told writer Farah Nayeri:“Until the harpsichord has the presence that any other mainstream instrument has, mywork isn’t done."

Concert I: Wednesday, November 7

J.S. Bach selections from The Well­Tempered Clavier, Book I (1722) George Lewis new work for harpsichord (2018),

world premiere, Miller Theatre commission

Concert II: Thursday, November 8 J.S. Bach selections from The Well­Tempered Clavier, Book II (1742)

Luciano Berio Rounds (1966) Tristan Perich Dual Synthesis (2009)

Artist:

Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord

Mahan Esfahanimahanesfahani.com

Mahan Esfahani was born in Tehran in 1984 and received his first guidance on the pianofrom his father before exploring an interest in the harpsichord as a teenager. He went on tostudy musicology and history at Stanford University, where he was mentored by GeorgeHoule, before studying intensively with Peter Watchorn in Boston and completing hisformation with the celebrated Zuzana Růžičková in Prague. He was a BBC New GenerationArtist from 2008-2010, a Borletti-Buitoni Trust prizewinner, and in 2014 Mahan was onthe shortlist both for the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year andGramophone Artist of the Year – all firsts for the harpsichord. In 2015 he was honouredwith the BBC Music Magazine ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award and was nominated in threecategories for the Gramophone Awards – Best Baroque Instrumental, Best Instrumental,and again Artist of the Year.

Since making his London debut in 2009 he has worked tirelessly to establish theharpsichord in the mainstream of concert instruments in classical and contemporaryrepertoire. This mission came to significant public attention when Mahan played the firstharpsichord recital in the history of the BBC Proms in 2011. Since then, recent andupcoming highlights include solo performances at the Zurich Tonhalle, ColognePhilharmonie, Wigmore Hall and the Barbican Centre in London, Wiener Konzerthaus,Berlin Konzerthaus, Schloss Elmau, Munich’s Bell’Arte, the Frick Collection in New York,Sumida Symphony Hall in Tokyo, Denki Bunka Kaikan in Nagoya, the Aldeburgh Festival,the Bristol Proms at the Old Vic, the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, Petronas Hall in KualaLumpur, the Kilkenny Arts Festival in Ireland, the Bruges Concertgebouw, Mogens DahlKoncerthus in Copenhagen, Pharos Arts Trust in Cyprus, Howard Assembly Rooms inLeeds, the Rudolfinum in Prague, BRQ in Helsinki, the Library of Congress in WashingtonD.C., the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, and the Leipzig Bach Festival. In 2015 he made alast-minute appearance as concerto soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, thuslaunching his North American career. The 2015-2016 sees a tour of China with the BrittenSinfonia and concerto and recital appearances in Spain, Poland, Australia, Estonia,Norway, Turkey, the United States, and Germany, as well as three returns to London’sWigmore Hall.

Following two successful albums for Hyperion Records – with C.P.E. Bach’s WürttemburgSonatas garnering a Gramophone Award and a Diapason d’Or, and the complete keyboardworks of Jean-Philippe Rameau being named in the New York Times ‘Critics’ List of TopRecordings of 2014’ – Mahan Esfahani signed as an exclusive artist with DeutscheGrammophon. His first album for DG/Archiv, ‘Time Present and Time Past’ – a recordingof music ranging from J.S. Bach and Scarlatti to Gorecki and Steve Reich – was released inSpring of 2015, garnering a ‘Choc de Classica’ in France. He also has recorded Byrd andLigeti for Wigmore Live, winning yet another Gramophone nomination. Following a stintas Artist-in-Residence at New College, Oxford, he now continues his academic activities asprofessor of harpsichord at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Upcoming Miller Theatre ConcertsSingle tickets: $20-$40

Saturday, October 13, 2018, 8 p.m.

Early Music

STILE ANTICO: ELIZABETH I, QUEEN OF MUSES

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 8 p.m.

Jazz

VIJAY IYER SEXTET

Saturday, October 27, 2018, 8 p.m.

Composer Portraits

KATE SOPER

Saturday, November 10, 2018, 8 p.m.

Early Music

CAPELLA PRATENSIS: THE JOSQUIN IMITATION GAME

Thursday, November 15, 2018, 8 p.m.

Composer Portraits

DU YUN

Miller Theatremillertheatre.com

Now in its 30th Anniversary Season, Miller Theatre at Columbia University is the leadingpresenter of new music in New York City and one of the most vital forces nationwide forinnovative programming. In partnership with Columbia University School of the Arts,Miller is dedicated to producing and presenting unique events, with a focus oncontemporary and early music, jazz, opera, and multimedia performances. Founded in

1988, Miller Theatre has helped launch the careers of myriad composers and ensemblesover the years, serving as an incubator for emerging artists and a champion of those not yetwell known in the United States. A four-time recipient of the ASCAP/Chamber MusicAmerica Award for Adventurous Programming, Miller Theatre continues to meet the highexpectations set forth by its founders—to present innovative programs, support thedevelopment of new work, and connect creative artists with adventurous audiences.

Major support for Miller Theatre’s 2018­19 Season is provided by the

New York State Council on the Arts with the support of

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature

Columbia University’s Miller Theatre is located north of the Main Campus Gate

at 116th St. & Broadway on the ground floor of Dodge Hall.

Directions and information are available online at millertheatre.com

or via the Miller Theatre Box Office at 212.854.7799.

For photos, please contact Arlene Kriv at 212/854-1488 or ark2125@columbia.edu.

For further information, press tickets, photos, and to arrange interviews, please contact Aleba & Co. at 212/206-1450 or aleba@alebaco.com.

Copyright © 2018 Aleba & Co., All rights reserved.

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