Elemental

James Austin Smith, oboe
Shai Wosner, piano
Karen Ouzounian, cello
Shane Shanahan, percussion

Enjoy the Carnegie Hall recital debut of an artist known equally as an instrumental virtuoso and an insatiable storyteller. In his fascinating Elemental program, James Austin Smith connects the oboe to ancient, global traditions of reed playing and asserts its elemental role in the human soundscape. The program interweaves thoughtful selections by Gasparyan, Du Yun, Erberk Eryılmaz, F. Couperin, and Rebel with powerful works by Britten and Haas. It also features the Carnegie Hall–commissioned world premieres of works by versatile composers Kian Ravaei and Zosha Di Castri. “James Austin Smith proves an oboist can have an adventurous solo career” (The New Yorker).

Program

Du Yun | Duet from Angel’s Bone

Britten | Temporal Variations

Rebel | Musette from Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major

Kian Ravaei | World Premiere commissioned by Carnegie Hall

Erberk Eryilmaz | Miniatures Set No. 7

Zosha di Castri | World Premiere commissioned by Carnegie Hall

Pavel Haas | Suite for Oboe and Piano

Gasparyan | My Home

F. Couperin | Muzette, “Naïvement” from Troisième concert royal

J.S. Bach | Loure from French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816

Shai Wosner | Bulgarian Gigue (after J.S. Bach)