Ariel Artists

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Blair McMillen

piano

"New Music's Torchbearer... Blair McMillen can play composers like Debussy, Liszt, and Scriabin with flair, intelligence, and Juilliard-honed virtuosity... When played by the formidable Mr. McMillen, any piece sounds terrific."

– Anthony Tommasini, New York Times

Bio

Blair McMillen has established himself as one of the most versatile and sought-after pianists today. The New York Times has described him as “riveting,” “prodigiously accomplished and exciting,” and one of the piano’s “brilliant young stars.” He has performed in venues both traditional and avant-garde; from Carnegie Hall, the Moscow Conservatory, the Metropolitan Museum, Avery Fisher Hall, Caramoor, Miller Theatre, and the Library of Congress; to (le) Poisson Rouge, Galapagos, the Knitting Factory, and The Stone. Highlights from recent seasons include a performane of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Bard Music Festival, a dozen performances of John Cage’s landmark Sonatas and Interludes, and several appearances with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Dedicated to new and groundbreaking projects, Blair McMillen is intensely committed to commissioning and performing the music of today. Known for his adventurous and imaginative programming, he has premiered hundreds of works, and constantly works with both established and emerging composers in commissioning new works for the piano. An avid chamber player, Mr. McMillen is pianist for the Naumburg Award-winning Da Capo Chamber Players. He is also the co-founder and director of the Rite of Summer Music Festival on Governor’s Island, a classical-contemporary music series which had its inaugural season in Summer 2011.

Blair McMillen holds degrees from Oberlin College, the Juilliard School, and Manhattan School of Music. His first solo CD Soundings was released in 2005 to wide critical acclaim. More recent recordings include Powerhouse Pianists on Lumiere, Concert Music of Fred Hersch on Naxos, and Multiplicities: Born in ’38 on Centaur. Mr. McMillen lives in New York City and serves on the music faculty at Bard College and Conservatory.

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    Listen


    Claude Debussy, Jardin sous la pluie (from “Estampes”)

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    William Bolcom, Graceful Ghost Rag

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    John Corigliano, Strobe (from “Chiaroscur0″) (with pianist Sachiko Kato)

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    Morton Gould, Boogie-Woogie Etude

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    Frederic Rzewski, Spells (Thinking of Jelly Roll Morton)

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    Alexander Scriabin, 5 Preludes, Op. 74

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    Programs

    2014/15 Program Offerings

    Current & Recent Programs
      • Concerto Offerings

        J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
        Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052
        Keyboard Concerto No. 4 in A Major, BWV 1055

        Haydn (1732-1809)
        Piano Concerto in D Major, Hob. XVIII

        Mozart (1756-1791)
        Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453
        Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488

        Beethoven (1770-1827)
        Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
        Concerto No. 2 in Bb major, Op. 19
        Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, “Emperor”

        Chopin (1810-1849)
        Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21

        César Franck (1822-1890)
        Symphonic Variations, M. 46

        Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894)
        Piano Concerto No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 70

        Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
        Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22

        Grieg (1843-1907)
        Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

        Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)
        Concerto (arr. Jon Magnussen)

        Bartók (1881-1945)
        Piano Concerto No. 1, Sz. 83

        Stravinsky (1882-1971)
        “Movements” for Piano and Orchestra
        Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments

        Prokofiev (1891-1953)
        Piano Concerto No. 1 in Db Major, Op. 10

        Gershwin (1898-1937)
        Rhapsody in Blue
        Concerto in F Major

        Shostakovich (1906-1975)
        Piano Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and String Orchestra, Op. 35
        Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102

        Elliott Carter (1908-2012)
        Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano

        Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
        Piano Concerto, Op. 38

        György Ligeti (1923-2006)
        Piano Concerto

        Lee Hyla (b. 1952)
        Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra No. 2 (1991)

        Carl Schimmel (b. 1975)
        Concerto for Piano (2009)

      Additional Offerings

      • Rhythm Nation: Piano as Percussion

        Of the many elements that define music, rhythm has arguably played the most crucial role in the development and furthering of piano repertoire over the past 100 years. What does it really mean when people call the piano a percussion instrument? You wil...

      • Piano 20/21

        This is a casual hour-long journey through some of the multifarious trends that constitute 20th- and 21st-century piano music. “Piano 20/21” is geared for pianists, composers, music-lovers, and non-musicians alike. For this program, Blair wil...

      • Masterclasses

        Blair McMillen has nearly 20 years of teaching experience, and has given masterclasses at numerous schools and communities around the country. He has presented masterclasses to musicians of all ages and levels, and is comfortable coaching soloists and ...

      • Extended Residency

        The main goal of an extended residency is to allow students to nurture a working relationship with a performing artist over the course of several days. The time period allows for interaction well beyond what is possible in a one-time workshop or master...