Thomas Mellan

Emerging Artist Thomas Mellan presents Collective Hysteria: The Complete Piano Sonatas of Pierre Boulez. Boulez is synonymous with music of era-defining extremes, showcasing brutal violence and sensual tenderness often in the same breath. What unifies his three pieces on this program is the tremendous virtuosity they demand of the player, and their concern with revolutionizing musical form and rhetoric.

Come meet this extraordinary musician as Thomas presents a rare LA performance of Boulez’s Second Piano Sonata, along with a new composition of his own titled “Rituel” honoring Boulez. He will also perform Anton Webern’s influential Variations for Piano, as well as world premieres of three new 30 for 30 piano pieces by organist/composer Rashaan Allwood, underground death metal legend Colin Marston, and Ukrainian violin virtuoso Orest Smovzh. 30 for 30 is Piano Spheres’ ambitious program to commission 30 composers to write 30 new compositions to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Program:
– 30 for 30 commission by Rashaan Allwood
– “Rituel” by Thomas Mellan
– 30 for 30 commission by Orest Smovzh
(intermission)
– 30 for 30 commission by Colin Marston
– Boulez’s Piano Sonata No. 2