The BACH Dialogues with Christopher O’Riley/Matt Haimovitz
Acclaimed musicians Christopher O'Riley and Matt Haimovitz defy convention in "The BACH Dialogues," a concert that breaks boundaries and reimagines the music of a legend. Forget stuffy recitals! This is an exploration where Baroque meets cutting-edge technology, and iconic sonatas get a vibrant new lease on life.
Christopher O'Riley and Matt Haimovitz have a voracious and expansive appetite for a wide range of music from various genres, from Radiohead and Pussy Riot to Beethoven Sonatas on period instruments. Bach's favored keyboard instrument was the clavichord, expressive and intimate, yet so inaudible that its diminutive sonic range pose challenges for the concert hall. With their forthcoming collaboration focusing on Bach's Sonatas for Viola da Gamba, O'Riley and Haimovitz realize a dream to enter into Bach's Platonic timbral world. Mr. Haimovitz arranges the Viola da Gamba part for his 5-string baroque cello piccolo - on which he recorded the Sixth Solo Suite of Bach; with the advent of next generation sound sampling, ‘physical modeling', Mr. O'Riley has amassed an arsenal of virtual/historical instruments, now capable even of vibrato on his digital keyboard, and easily amplified to concert level. O'Riley & Haimovitz perform the three original Bach Gamba Sonatas and C Major Trio Sonata, a virtuoso vehicle highlighting the coloratura high range of the cello piccolo. Solo Preludes and Fugues of Bach from the Well-Tempered Klavier and the Cello Suites, are interstitially arranged to fill out the set.
Matt Haimovitz Bio:
Renowned as a musical pioneer, multi-Grammy-nominated cellist MATT HAIMOVITZ is praised by The New York Times as a "ferociously talented cellist who brings his megawatt sound and uncommon expressive gifts to a vast variety of styles" and by The New Yorker as "remarkable virtuoso" who "never turns in a predictable performance." He brings a fresh ear to familiar repertoire, champions new music, and initiates groundbreaking collaborations, as well as creating innovative recording projects. In addition to his touring schedule, Haimovitz mentors an award-winning studio of young cellists at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal and is now the first-ever John Cage Fellow at The New School's Mannes School of Music in New York City.
Christopher O'Riley Bio:
An American classical pianist and public radio show host. He was the host of the weekly National Public Radio program From the Top. O'Riley is also known for his piano arrangements of songs by alternative musicians. Pianist, arranger, collaborative artist, composer, educator and media personality. O'Riley's breakthrough competition year in which he won prizes at the Cliburn, Leeds, Montreal, Busoni, Young Concert Artists, Affiliate Artists and an Avery Fisher Career Grant afforded him repeat appearances with virtually every major American orchestra: New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony; the orchestras of Seattle, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Cincinnati and many more. He has also toured the U.S. with The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in works by Mozart and Liszt, with the Ulster Orchestra in works of Ravel and Tschaikovsky, and in the U.K. with Tschaikovsky and Prokofiev 2nd Concerto with the Moscow Philharmonic and Vasilly Sinaisky.