Gunnar Johansen’s Third Piano Concerto premiered in the Madison Civic Center on May 23, 1981 with the composer at the piano accompanied by the Madison Symphony Orchestra conducted by Roland Johnson. Professor of Piano Christopher Taylor performed this concerto with the Symphony Orchestra and conductor Oriol Sans to a live audience on December 9, 2022, and recorded the concert on December 10, 2022. Both the live and recorded performances took place in the Mead Witter Foundation Concert Hall at the Hamel Music Center as part of a series of events celebrating the pianist and composer.
Johansen (1906-1991) joined the School of Music faculty in 1939 as the nation’s first musical artist-in-residence. He remained active in the School of Music until his death in 1991. During his tenure, he emerged as one of the most productive, respected, and beloved figures on campus. A champion of Busoni’s music, he recorded all of Bach’s keyboard music, and a substantial part of Liszt’s music.
