Sat 8.6 Concerto for Piano

BEHZAD RANJBARAN (b. 1955)

Behzad Ranjbaran’s musical education started early when he entered the Tehran Music Conservatory at the age of nine. He came to the United States in 1974 to attend Indiana University and received his doctorate in composition from The Juilliard School, where he currently serves on the faculty. 2010-2011 highlights include performances of his Piano Concerto by Jean-Yves Thibaudet with both the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Robert Spano, and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra with Marin Alsop conducting its west coast premiere; the New York premiere of "We Are One" by Musica Sacra; and, the release of an all-Ranjbaran album of string music on Naxos, including Awakening, String Quartet, Elegy, and more. In the 2009-10 season two commissioned works were premiered: Concerto for violin and viola by Virginia Symphony, conducted by JoAnn Falletta, and Mithra by Santa Rosa Symphony, Bruno Ferrandis, conductor. In recent seasons, three chamber works were premiered: Fountains of Fin, a eulogy for Amir Kabir, the 19th century slain Iranian vezir, Shiraz and Isfahan celebrating two of Mr. Ranjbaran’s favorite cities in Iran. In 2008-9 season, Ranjbaran was the composer-in-residence with the Fort Worth Symphony where three of his works were performed during the subscription concerts. In the summer of 2005, Mr. Ranjbaran was composer-in-residence for the 40th anniversary of the Saratoga Music Festival. In celebration of the occasion, he composed the orchestral overture Saratoga, which was premiered by Charles Dutoit and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Earlier works include Songs of Eternity on the Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam, written in 1998 for soprano Renée Fleming, and was premiered with the Seattle Symphony under the direction of Gerard Schwarz. Joshua Bell was the soloist in the premiere performances of the Violin Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003, also conducted by Schwarz.  Recordings include the Persian Trilogy on the Delos label by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta. This orchestral cycle, comprising the works Seven Passages, Seemorgh, and The Blood of Seyavash, takes its inspiration from ancient Persian legends, as recounted in the 11th century epic poem Shahnameh (The Book of Kings).  Behzad Ranjbaran makes his Cabrillo Festival debut with the west coast premiere of his Piano Concerto on August 6, 2011.

www.behzadranjbaran.com

Photo by: Peter Schaaf