Bryce Dessner Announces New Classical Album 'El Chan'

Bryce Dessner has announced the international release of El Chan on April 5^th via Deutche Grammophon. The new classical album features Katia and Marielle Labèque on piano, and debuts the recordings of three Dessner-composed works: “Concerto for Two Pianos,” “El Chan,” and “Haven” - the latter accompanied by Dessner and David Chalmin on guitar.

Originally written for the Labèque sisters, "Concerto for Two Pianos" premiered with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Southbank Centre in April 2018, and has been performed by many orchestras since including Orchestre de Paris, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, and Musica Nova in Helsinki - where Dessner served as Artist-In-Residence. It will premiere in the US this September with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

“El Chan,” both the title piece and the album, are dedicated to the film director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu and his wife Maria Eladia Hagerman. The collection of music is inspired by the mythical spirit ‘El Chan’ of their hometown San Miguel de Allende.

Watch the teaser for El Chan below, and follow Bryce Dessner as he embarks on his four-date European Minimalist Dream House tour this April alongside Katia and Marielle Labeque, David Chalmin, and special guest Thom Yorke.