The Harpsichord & Stravinsky’s Pulcinella
The harpsichord shines in this program embracing the old and the new. Leading harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani performs a world premiere work by Julian Grant for solo harpsichord and orchestra. Viet Cuong’s Extra(ordinarily) Fancy cleverly reinterprets the baroque double oboe concerto. The PSO performs Igor Stravinsky’s neo-classical ballet Pulcinella in its full version featuring three vocal soloists.
“Now he [Mahan Esfahani] emerges as a superstar whose musicianship, imagination, virtuosity, cultural breath and charisma far transcends the ivory tower in which the harpsichord has traditionally been placed.” — The Times
This concert is made possible through the generous support of Jay Vawter
with additional support for the World Premiere of Vaudeville in Teal from
Thomas Bieler, Sue Howard, Dr. Ferris Olin, and an anonymous donor.
Program
Viet CUONG / Extra(ordinarily) Fancy
Julian GRANT / Vaudeville in Teal for harpsichord and small orchestra
(WORLD PREMIERE)
Igor STRAVINSKY / Pulcinella
Key Notes 
- Julian Grant, a resident of Princeton, has composed 20 operas. This will be his third orchestral work performed by the PSO.
- Listen for Viet Cuong’s use of multiphonics in the oboe parts in Extra(ordinarily) Fancy. Cuong writes: “Multiphonics are produced when the performer uses a technically incorrect fingering to create a distorted, complex sound with two or more pitches… I’ve always found them to be enchanting and, for lack of a better term, misunderstood.”
- The music for Stravinsky’s Pulcinella is drawn from works of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, giving it an eighteenth-century essence.
Performers
Rossen Milanov, conductor
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Lillian Copeland, oboe
Erin Gustafson, oboe
Aubry Ballarò, soprano
Nicholas Nestorak, tenor
Hunter Enoch, bass-baritone
Media
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