NYPhilharmonic Timo Andres The Blind Banister: Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orch

Composer Timo Andres (b Amer 1985) had his NY Philharmonic premier of "The Blind Banister: Conerto for Piano & Chamber Orch today.  Andres, a Julliard alum is an accomplished pianist but is garnering recognition for his composing.  Pianist Jonathan Bliss performed Andres's work and Beethoven's Piano Concerto #2 on the program.  Interestingly, Andres's work had echoes of Beethoven's classical majesty and intricate piano solos woven into the orchestration.  "The Blind Banister" begins with a piano solo of descending scales that become layered throughout the work.  The orchestration falls away leaving the piano solos to carry on the intensity of the piece.  The 2nd movement, Ringing Weight-Cadenza had an unusual percussive sound from the simantra (mounted wooden plans) that had a jazzy sound  I found surprising & pleasing.  It stood apart from the 1st and 3rd movements and yet drew them together.  The piano solo in the 1st movement, Sliding Scale, had an airy, suspended quality.  The 3rd movement, Coda Teneramete, had a rushing, powerful orchestration that mirrored Beethoven's Rondo: Malto allegro movement.  This is the first work I've heard by Andres. I hope to hear more from him in the future.  I think his concerto for piano & chamber orchestration was remarkable.