Garrick Ohlsson

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Garrick Ohlsson

Garrick Ohlsson owns the piano like few others, playing it with authority, humility, a sense of discovery and deep commitment. His program will traverse favorites from Debussy, Chopin and Liszt, as well as a new commission from Australian composer Thomas Misson.

2023 Concert Season

In 1970 Garrick Ohlsson – a gangly pianist from White Plains, New York, all of 22 and unknown beyond his hometown – pulled off an astonishing feat: from nowhere he won the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, the only American to have done so. He somehow missed the announcement, a kindly audience member informing him that his life would never be quite the same.

In the subsequent 50 years Ohlsson has owned Chopin’s music like few others, playing it with authority, humility, a sense of discovery and deep commitment.

Ohlsson has other heroes too. Scriabin is one such example, his powerful, impressionistic music an ideal match for Ohlsson’s authoritative playing. He adores Barber and Schubert, Debussy and Liszt too, choosing this Australian tour for his first performance of the latter’s Sonata in B Minor in many years. His program also features a new work, Convocations by the Australian composer Thomas Misson.

"Ohlsson’s musical breadth and depth makes him one the piano’s most compelling advocates. Don’t miss an opportunity to hear him. "

— The Age

"Often, Ohlsson suspended time, holding us in limbo"

— Limelight

"sublime piano playing at its absolute best"

— ArtsHub

"A recital with Ohlsson is always like a conversation with a wise and kind master – gentle, despite his towering stature."

— Sydney Morning Herald

GARRICK OHLSSON Piano

Program 1 - Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne Saturday, Newcastle, Sydney Monday

SCHUBERT Impromptu in C Minor, Op. 90, No. 1
LISZT Piano Sonata in B Minor, S.178
Thomas MISSON Convocations*
SCRIABIN Étude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2, No. 1
SCRIABIN Étude in D-Flat Major, Op. 8, No. 10
SCRIABIN Étude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 42, No. 5
SCRIABIN Two Poems, Op. 32: Andante cantabile
SCRIABIN Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 5

Program 2 - Adelaide, Melbourne Tuesday, Perth, Sydney Saturday

DEBUSSY Suite bergamasque
BARBER Piano Sonata in E-Flat Minor, Op. 26
Thomas MISSON Convocations*
CHOPIN Variations brillantes, Op. 12
CHOPIN Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 4: Larghetto
CHOPIN Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 31

*World premiere performances. Commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by Stephen Johns for his wife, Michele.

Thomas Misson

Thomas Misson is a musician from Hobart who has recently studied with Elliott Gyger, Ken Thomson, and Yannis Kyriakides.

Thomas’ compositions are inspired by the extremes of the human condition and its omnipresent imperfections. His music often aims to reimagine familiar musical constructs in ways that are surreal, blackly humorous, tender, and lyrical.

Thomas has a passion for expanding and enriching others’ relationships with music through the disciplines of teaching, YouTubing, and music journalism. He is an experienced pianist who performs in a variety of contexts, genres, and capacities such as recitalist, concerto soloist, jazz pianist, and collaborative pianist.

Thomas’ new work, Convocations will be premiered by Garrick Ohlsson on his national tour. It was commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by Stephen Johns for his wife, Michele.

View or download the program guide by pressing this button below . Zoom or view in a full screen using these buttons below .

Photo credit: Lyndon Mechielsen

Event and Ticketing Details

Dates & Times

Brisbane	1 June 7pm
Melbourne	3 June 7pm
Sydney	5 June 7pm
Adelaide	8 June 7:30pm
Newcastle	10 June 7:30
Melbourne	13 June 7pm
Canberra	15 June 7pm
Sydney	17 June 2pm
Perth	19 June 7:30pm