An artist equally adept in the interpretation of new music and the classical repertoire, French pianist Marie Vermeulin is recipient of multiple international prizes and a guest at leading festivals and venues. Her concert includes the world premiere of Neal Farwell’s Concerto, written for her, in which ritual and sonic magic let the piano take wing though an orchestra of loudspeakers. The concerto plays in a single span, whose sections are named in the score:

Part 1: — I. Invocation — II. Circles — III. Image — IV. Incantation: cadenza — V. Flight

Part 2: — VI. Arc — VII. Nocturne — VIII. Envoi

With Pécou’s dancing Gamelan, and Messiaen’s pianistic contemplation and outpouring of joy as he looks towards heaven, this is the piano rising unbound.

Neal Farwell : Concerto for Piano and Loudspeaker Orchestra

Thierry Pécou : Gamelan bien tempéré (Well-Tempered Gamelan), nos. 3, 5.

Olivier Messiaen : Regard de l'Etoile, Regard de la Vierge, Regard des Hauteurs, Regard de l’Esprit de joie

Photo Credit: Jean-Baptiste Millot Basse