Chamber Music Pittsburgh presents Sphinx Medal of Excellence Recipients Mesa and Cann in the January 20 concert.
Chamber Music Pittsburgh (CMP) presents the Pittsburgh debut of trailblazing artists Tommy Mesa and Michelle Cann in a program that reimagines the chamber music canon for the 21st century. Part of the MainStage Live series, this unique concert pairs works by composers like Nadia Boulanger and Kevin Day with Claude Debussy and Dmitri Shostakovich, brought to life by the invigorating talents of two outstanding musicians.
Mesa and Cann, both recipients of the Sphinx Organization’s prestigious Medal of Excellence, share a passion for celebrating composers and performers from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in classical music. They most recently partnered in November 2023 to produce Our Stories, an album dedicated to contemporary works by Black and Latinx composers.
“This program represents my ideal: leading artists performing beloved masterpieces by canonical composers, paired with beautiful contemporary music ripe for discovery, with all of the works having plenty to say to each other and to the audience,” says Martha Bonta, CMP’s Executive and Artistic Director. “Tommy Mesa and Michelle Cann understand the art of concert programming and are taking us on a musical journey through France, Spain, Russia and the United States that will include both welcome landmarks and breathtaking discoveries along the way.”
Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa has appeared as a soloist at the Supreme Court on four occasions and with major orchestras across the United States. Mesa gave the world premiere and subsequent tour of Jessie Montgomery’s cello concerto in the 2022–23 season, with performances at major halls across the United States and Brazil, including Miami’s New World Center and Carnegie Hall.
“The pieces on this program were picked to show the audience a couple of classics but also some other works that should be classics,” says Tommy Mesa. “The Kevin Day Sonata is from a ‘call for scores’ project I did with Michelle Cann that allowed composers to submit their works for consideration in a professional recording…The Nikolai Kapustin is an unknown gem of the repertoire, it has intensely beautiful lyricism but has jazz improv written into the score.”
Lauded as “exquisite” by The Philadelphia Inquirer and “a pianist of sterling artistry” (Gramophone), Michelle Cann has become one of the most sought-after contemporary pianists. She is recognized as the leading interpreter of the piano music of Florence Price, with her recording of Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with the New York Youth Symphony winning a Grammy Award in 2023. As a soloist, chamber musician, and educator, Cann staunchly believes in community-building through music.
Michelle Cann says of the unknown gems she is set to perform with Mesa for Mainstage Live, “I hope that the audience is excited to learn some new things. We’re going to be exposing them to pieces that some of them don’t know or have not heard before mixed with traditional works.”
About the Artists
Tommy Mesa
Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa has established himself as one of this generation’s most charismatic, innovative, and engaging performers. He travels extensively, curating and performing, and has a robust album collaboration and release schedule. Mesa performs on a Nicolò Gagliano cello made in 1767 and a bow by Andre Richaume.
Michelle Cann
Michelle Cann is one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation. She is well-known for her interpretations of Florence Price’s work, and she is often invited to teach master classes, give lecture demonstrations, and lead teaching residencies. Cann holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Program
- Nadia Boulanger Three Pieces for Cello and Piano
- Andrea Casarrubios Mensajes del agua
- Claude Debussy Sonata in D minor
- Kevin Day Sonata for Cello and Piano
- Nikolai Kapustin Elegy
- Dmitri Shostakovich Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Chamber Music Pittsburgh presents MainStage Live: Tommy Mesa and Michelle Cann on January 20, 2025, 7:30PM at the PNC Theatre in the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Tickets range from $30-$55 (student tickets are $15) and can be purchased online.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Show Previews
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