Jazz pianist and composer Brad Mehldau has been appointed to hold the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair at Carnegie Hall for the 2010–2011 season. Mr. Mehldau is the first jazz artist to be appointed to the Debs Composer’s Chair since Carnegie Hall established the position in 1995. Distinguished as an innovative jazz pianist with a penchant for juxtaposing extremes and exploring the space between improvisation and notated composition, he will bring these elements to Zankel Hall’s stage in various capacities throughout his residency.

The residency begins in November 2010 with the live, New York premiere of Mr. Mehldau’s new concert-length work Highway Rider with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, saxophonist Joshua Redman, bassist Larry Grenadier, and percussionists Jeff Ballard and Matt Chamberlain. (Highway Rider will be released on CD by Nonesuch in March 2010.) In January 2011, he explores the dichotomy that makes up his musical personality—an improviser with a deep fascination for the formal architecture of classical music—in a solo program featuring some of his own original compositions interspersed with classical piano works that influenced him throughout his career. In February, he reunites with acclaimed mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter for the New York premiere of a newly expanded version of his song cycle Love Songs, along with traditional lieder and standards from such composers as Brahms and Lennon & McCartney. The expanded version of Love Songs was commissioned by Carnegie Hall following the original’s spring 2009 debut by this duo. The original libretto comprises three poems by early 20th-century American poet Sara Teasdale, book-ended by poems from Philip Larkin and e e cummings.

In March, Mr. Mehldau concludes his season-long residency with a concert entitled Piano Power, featuring the world premiere of a new work for two pianos, six winds, and percussion co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall as well as emerging contemporary classical piano duos by composers Patrick Zimmerli and Timothy Andres. He will also lead master classes exploring improvisation and creative collaboration for solo and jazz piano trios at (Le) Poisson Rouge, presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute as part of its Professional Training Workshop series for young artists.

Previous holders of Carnegie Hall’s Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair have been Louis Andriessen (2009–2010), Elliott Carter (2008–2009), Thomas Adès (2007–2008), John Adams (2003–2007), Pierre Boulez (1999–2003), and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1995–1999).