A year after its world premiere in Zurich, the Piano Concerto by Bryce Dessner will receive its German premiere on January 15 in Munich. Brad Lubman conducts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra with soloist Alice Sara Ott for whom the work was written. Dessner says that he was inspired by Ott’s beautiful playing and that he wanted to write music that ‘would both challenge her and draw out her unique qualities as an artist.’
On March 28, Ott takes the concerto to Berlin with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under the baton of Elim Chan.
The work is dedicated to Dessner’s sister Jessica Reese Dessner. Its three movements ‘HOW TO DANCE’, ‘HOW TO BREATH’, and ‘HOW TO FEEL’ take direct inspiration from her life and artistic practice. ‘As kids I learned so much about art and music from her, and we have collaborated on many projects together over the years’, says Dessner.
The Piano Concerto was Commissioned by Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich AG, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Southbank Centre and Philharmonia Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin and Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ars Musica Brussels with the support of Bozar, Philzuid Netherlands and Brussels Philharmonic.