Tickets $65

America/Beautiful is pianist Min Kwon's project — born during the pandemic — which commissioned variations on "America the Beautiful" from over 70 composers across the country, ranging in age from 21 to 96, and asking a single urgent question: What is America — is it beautiful, was it ever, or will it ever be? Selections will include New York Premieres by Samuel Adler, Stewart Copeland, Fred Hersch, Timo Andres, and others; each composer brings a radically different perspective on the American experience. Together, these variations form a powerful collection of stories as colorful and diverse as America’s people and landscapes. Images of American landscapes to accompany each variation by photographer Park Joon.

Min Kwon, piano 
Timo Andres, piano
Claire Bourg, violin
Chaihun Kim, piano
Jorges Tabarés, piano
Park Joon, photographer

Program

Samuel ADLER A Celebration of our Beautiful Nation (NY Premiere)
Timo ANDRES America Coda
Kenji BUNCH Beauty For All (Or For None At All) (NY Premiere)
Stewart COPELAND America Quite Beautiful (NY Premiere)
Michael GANDOLFI Of Liberating Strife (NY Premiere)
Fred HERSCH Four Windows Into America (NY Premiere)
Vijay IYER Crown Thy Good
Pierre JALBERT Endeavor (NY Premiere)
Libby LARSEN Amber (Variation) (NY Premiere)
George LEWIS America, the changing same
David Serkin LUDWIG Quaddiš” for Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Kaddish)
Jessica MEYER Halcyon Skies
Nico MUHLY Refine (NY Premiere)
Huang RUO Meditation
Judith Lang ZAIMONT in darkness veiled (NY Premiere)

Reception to follow by LYSÉE

"This is an invaluable collection of contemporary piano works" —MusicWeb International

"Kwon plays every piece as if she’s been playing them for years. She gives life to the love, wonder, concern, fear and gratitude that this vast country’s citizenry, with all its differing views, possesses." —Cultural Attache

“…moving, inspiring and uplifting…Kwon’s performances are always committed, polished and expressive (and her presentation imaginative, attractive, and suitably varied…..)  again, the performances are outstanding.”

“…a monumental statement, both about contemporary America and about contemporary music that will surely establish itself as one of the major works of this century.” —International Piano

LYSÉE (lee-zay) is a pastry boutique by Chef Eunji Lee in the Flatiron District. Inspired by her love of pastry as edible art, Lysée is named for Chef Lee’s sweet museum derived from the French word Musée. Lysée’s menu, like Chef Lee, is influenced by three cultures - French, Korean and New York City.