Mandolin Player Chris Thile to Perform at Zankel Hall, 10/22

By: Sep. 10, 2013
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On Tuesday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall presents mandolin virtuoso, composer, and vocalist, Chris Thile-of the ensemble Punch Brothers-in a program that features Bach's sonatas and partitas for solo violin played on the mandolin, along with original compositions and contemporary music. Thile's recording of three works by Bach-Sonata No. 1 in G minor, Partita No. 1 in B minor, and Sonata No. 2 in A minor-was recently released on his recording Bach: Sonatas and Partitas, Vol. 1 on Nonesuch Records. The record was produced by Thile's friend, mentor, and frequent collaborator, the double bassist and composer Edgar Meyer.

Thile notes, "This record to me is not about this iconic violin music played on the mandolin-like, 'Oh boy, what fun, he's playing a weird instrument!' It's about Bach being one of the greatest musicians of all time, the solo violin music being some of his best work, and the mandolin having the potential to cast it in a new and hopefully interesting light."

Chris Thile, whom The London Independent calls "the most remarkable mandolinist in the world," is the founding member and lead vocalist of Punch Brothers--a group referred to by The Times of London as "brilliant, audacious, original and, above all, entertaining." With broad influences including progressive bluegrass, classical, rock, and jazz, Thile-a recently named MacArthur fellow-transcends the borders of conventionally circumscribed genres, creating a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic. Most recently, Thile spent the summer touring with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, and Edgar Meyer, with whom he released last year's The Goat Rodeo Sessions, which won two Grammy Awards in 2013.

As a solo artist, Thile has released five albums prior to his new recording of Bach's sonatas and partitas. In 2011, Nonesuch Records released the Grammy-nominated Sleep with One Eye Open, an album of duets with guitarist Michael Daves and the following year saw Punch Brothers' critically acclaimed third album, Who's Feeling Young Now?. Thile has also collaborated with a pantheon of musical innovators from multiple genres, including Béla Fleck, Brad Mehldau, and Hilary Hahn. For more than 15 years, Thile played in the wildly popular band Nickel Creek, with which he released three albums, sold two million records, and received a Grammy Award.

Tickets, priced at $43 and $50, are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org.



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