Mahan Esfahani
Encyclopedia
Mahan Esfahani is an Iranian-American
keyboardist; he is the first harpsichordist named as a BBC New Generation Artist. As a concerto soloist, recitalist, and collaborative musician, he has gained an international reputation on a variety of early keyboards.
, Esfahani came most seriously under the influence of the American musicologist George Houle. Later, he continued his harpsichord studies with the Australian harpsichordist Peter Watchorn
in Boston and with the Italian organist Lorenzo Ghielmi
in Milan.
Having quickly gained an international reputation, played many significant concerts,
been praised as "exceptionally gifted" (The Times) and for "the virtuosity of a master" (Keyboard Magazine)., currently he is as Artist-in-Residence at New College, Oxford. He made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2009 as a concerto soloist with The English Concert
, and in the same year performed at the BBC Proms' chamber series and made extensive recordings of concerto and solo repertoire for the harpsichord for BBC Radio 3.
From 2008-2010 Mahan Esfahani was a Radio 3 New Generation Artist
. Currently he is the first and only early instrument specialist to have joined the programme.
Respected for gaining attention for the harpsichord as a concert instrument, Mahan Esfahani is known for his criticism of what he perceives as the many dogmas of the early music
movement. He approves, for example, of doubling octaves in the bass., and works actively with modern instrument players in re-creating the sonic world of earlier music. He is also well known for his advocacy of contemporary music and has played numerous new commissions.
Esfahani is managed by Rayfield Artists of London. He was the recipient of a Borletti Buitoni Trust Award in 2009, being the first harpsichordist and first Iranian to do so. He has continued his work in bringing the harpsichord to the mainstream of Classical Music
, and in 2011 made history with the first solo harpsichord recital at the BBC
Proms.
He also started to make a name as a conductor and director, appearing with such ensembles as The Manchester Camerata, The English Concert
, and Arion Baroque Orchestra of Montreal.
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
keyboardist; he is the first harpsichordist named as a BBC New Generation Artist. As a concerto soloist, recitalist, and collaborative musician, he has gained an international reputation on a variety of early keyboards.
Biography
Born in 1984 in Tehran, Esfahani grew up in United States. While at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Esfahani came most seriously under the influence of the American musicologist George Houle. Later, he continued his harpsichord studies with the Australian harpsichordist Peter Watchorn
Peter Watchorn
Peter Watchorn is an Australian-born harpsichordist who has combined a virtuosic keyboard technique, musical scholarship and practical experience in the construction of harpsichords copied from original instruments of the 17th and 18th centuries...
in Boston and with the Italian organist Lorenzo Ghielmi
Lorenzo Ghielmi
Lorenzo Ghielmi is an Italian organist and harpsichordist.He teaches old music at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan and at the "Schola Cantorum Basiliensis" in Basel. He was professor in Trossingen and at the Hochschule für Musik in Lübeck too. Ghielmi also played with Ensemble Il...
in Milan.
Having quickly gained an international reputation, played many significant concerts,
been praised as "exceptionally gifted" (The Times) and for "the virtuosity of a master" (Keyboard Magazine)., currently he is as Artist-in-Residence at New College, Oxford. He made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2009 as a concerto soloist with The English Concert
The English Concert
The English Concert is a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments based in London. Founded in 1972 and directed from the harpsichord by Trevor Pinnock for 30 years, it is now directed by harpsichordist Harry Bicket...
, and in the same year performed at the BBC Proms' chamber series and made extensive recordings of concerto and solo repertoire for the harpsichord for BBC Radio 3.
From 2008-2010 Mahan Esfahani was a Radio 3 New Generation Artist
BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme
BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme was devised by BBC Radio 3 Editor Adam Gatehouse and launched in 1999. It exists as part of the BBC's commitment to nurture young musical talent. Every autumn six to seven young artists who are beginning to make a mark on the national and international...
. Currently he is the first and only early instrument specialist to have joined the programme.
Respected for gaining attention for the harpsichord as a concert instrument, Mahan Esfahani is known for his criticism of what he perceives as the many dogmas of the early music
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
movement. He approves, for example, of doubling octaves in the bass., and works actively with modern instrument players in re-creating the sonic world of earlier music. He is also well known for his advocacy of contemporary music and has played numerous new commissions.
Esfahani is managed by Rayfield Artists of London. He was the recipient of a Borletti Buitoni Trust Award in 2009, being the first harpsichordist and first Iranian to do so. He has continued his work in bringing the harpsichord to the mainstream of Classical Music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, and in 2011 made history with the first solo harpsichord recital at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Proms.
He also started to make a name as a conductor and director, appearing with such ensembles as The Manchester Camerata, The English Concert
The English Concert
The English Concert is a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments based in London. Founded in 1972 and directed from the harpsichord by Trevor Pinnock for 30 years, it is now directed by harpsichordist Harry Bicket...
, and Arion Baroque Orchestra of Montreal.