Join Musical America’s Artist of the Year and GRAMMY and Juno Award-winning soprano Barbara Hannigan, alongside acclaimed pianist Bertrand Chamayou, for a two-day residency at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. Hannigan and Chamayou will be on campus from December 7-8, 2024, with all public events taking place in Kilbourn Hall.
Barbara Hannigan, a daring soprano-turned-conductor, is celebrated for her innovative programming and distinctive approach to music. Recently appointed the chief conductor and artistic director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (effective in 2026), Hannigan is a unique artist who started her career as a vocalist but has recently gained widespread recognition for her dynamic conducting — occasionally employing both skills at the same time. “The intrepid Canadian soprano has emerged over the last half decade as one of the most vital and original musicians of her generation” (The New Yorker).
Hannigan is currently touring with Bertrand Chamayou, a masterful pianist whose striking assurance, imagination and remarkable consistency are displayed in his performances. Though Chamayou is most known for his interpretations of French repertoire, he has also recorded two albums of American composer John Cage’s music, including one that juxtaposes John Cage with French composer Erik Satie.
As the Founder of Equilibrium Young Artists and the Reinbert de Leeuw Professor of Music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Hannigan is committed to and inspired by working with younger artists. On Saturday, December 7, she will spend time with Eastman’s undergraduate and graduate students across departments, offering masterclasses that range from conducting and singing practices to breathing techniques and career advice. Chamayou will work specifically with pianists.
The following afternoon, on Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 p.m., this powerhouse duo makes their Rochester debut as part of the Kilbourn Concert Series. Presenting a program of works by Olivier Messiaen, Alexander Scriabin and John Zorn, Hannigan notes: “This unique recital takes us on a spiritual path, beginning with Messiaen’s youthful and ecstatic songs in praise of heaven and earth, through the deep mysticism of Scriabin, and culminating in the epic virtuosity of John Zorn’s ‘Jumalattaret,’ a work drawing its inspiration from Finnish goddesses of the Kalevala. For Bertrand and me, it is truly a ‘trip’ to perform this transcendent music together, and we love bringing our audiences with us on this journey.”
After observing this same program, Platea Magazine exclaimed, “From the very beginning I was certain that I had just experienced one of the most passionate recitals I have ever had the good fortune to listen to.”
To learn more about this residency, and other upcoming events from the Eastman School of Music, visit our website.
Tickets to all Eastman Presents concerts can be purchased online, in person at the Eastman Theatre Box Office (located at 433 East Main Street; hours: M-F 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) or by calling 585-274-3000.
Public Events in Kilbourn Hall
Saturday, December 7
Voice Masterclass with Barbara Hannigan at 1:00 p.m.
Piano Masterclass with Bertrand Chamayou at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 8
Kilbourn Concert Series at 3:00 p.m. (ticketed)
This concert is made possible by Mark and Lois Taubman.
Media only: Lauren Sageer, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Digital Content,
(585) 451-8492, lsageer@esm.rochester.edu
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About Barbara Hannigan:
Embodying music with an unparalleled dramatic sensibility, soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan is an artist at the forefront of creation. More than 30 years since her professional debut, the Grammy and Juno Award-winning Canadian musician has worked extensively with directors and conductors including Simon Rattle, Sasha Waltz, Esa Pekka Salonen, Antonio Pappano and Katie Mitchell, and with composers such as Pierre Boulez, John Zorn, György Ligeti, Henri Dutilleux, Hans Abrahamsen and George Benjamin. The late conductor and pianist Reinbert de Leeuw has been an extraordinary influence and inspiration on her development as a musician.
Her operatic appearances include iconic productions of Lulu (Brussels, Hamburg), La Voix Humaine (Paris Opera), Pelléas et Mélisande (Aix-en-Provence, Ruhrtriennale), Die Soldaten (Munich), and Written on Skin (Royal Opera House and international touring). Recent conducting engagements include The Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Munich Philharmonic. She also holds positions including Principal Guest Conductor of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (since 2019), Première Artiste Invitée of Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (since 2022), Associate Artist of London Symphony Orchestra (since 2022), Principal Guest Conductor of Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (since 2024) and will begin her tenure as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 2026. Barbara’s dedication to the younger generation of musicians led her to create the mentoring initiative Equilibrium Young Artists in 2018.
About Bertrand Chamayou:
Bertrand Chamayou stands as one of today’s most brilliant pianists, acclaimed for his virtuosic and deeply imaginative performances. Renowned for interpreting French music, he has explored major works by Ravel, Liszt, and Messiaen. Chamayou’s collaborations with contemporary composers demonstrate his passion for innovation. Performing worldwide at esteemed venues and festivals, he has graced stages with the world’s most renowned orchestras and conductors. His acclaimed recordings, including Messiaen’s Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, have garnered numerous awards and accolades, showcasing his mastery. His most recent releases are CAGE2 on Erato, a masterful interpretation of John Cage’s works for prepared piano, and together with Barbara Hannigan the album Messiaen presenting Messiaen’s two major song cycles from the 1930’s on Alpha Classics.
Chamayou’s artistic endeavors extend beyond performance, as he co-directs the Festival Ravel, a prominent celebration of Maurice Ravel’s legacy in France. With a multi-award-winning discography and an unparalleled dedication to musical innovation, Bertrand Chamayou continues to captivate audiences around the world.
About Eastman School of Music:
The Eastman School of Music was founded in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman (1854–1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company. It was the first professional school of the University of Rochester. Mr. Eastman’s dream was that his school would provide a broad education in the liberal arts as well as superb musical training.
More than 900 students are enrolled in the Collegiate Division of the Eastman School of Music—about 500 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. They come from almost every state, and approximately 23 percent are from other countries. They are taught by a faculty comprised of more than 130 highly regarded performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. They are Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy winners, Emmy winners, Guggenheim fellows, ASCAP Award recipients, published authors, recording artists, and acclaimed musicians who have performed in the world’s greatest concert halls. Each year, Eastman’s students, faculty members, and guest artists present more than 900 concerts to the Rochester community. Additionally, more than 1,700 members of the Rochester community, from young children through senior citizens, are enrolled in the Eastman Community Music School.
About the University of Rochester:
The University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading private research universities, one of only 62-member institutions in the Association of American Universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives undergraduates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.