Vladimir Feltsman, piano

Sept. 17, 2011
8 p.m.

“…quite simply an amazing pianist!” – The New York Times

Known across the great music centers of the world as a sheer master pianist, Vladimir Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11 and in 1971 won the Grand Prix at the Marguerite Long International Piano Competition in Paris. After a seven-year Soviet ban on public performances, he was finally allowed to leave Russia in 1987 and made his stunning North American debut at the Reagan White House. Since then he has built a career based on sensitivity and musicianship and performs regularly with every leading American orchestra and on most major recital series. His vast repertoire encompasses music from the Baroque to 20th-century composers, including a Bach cycle of concerts spanning four years.

Back to top

Brooklyn Rider Quartet

Oct. 8, 2011
8 p.m.

“Forgive the hyperbole, but I’ve seen the future of chamber music and it is Brooklyn Rider.” – Strings Magazine

The adventurous, genre-defying string quartet Brooklyn Rider combines a wildly eclectic repertoire with a gripping performance style that is attracting legions of fans and drawing critical acclaim from classical, world and rock critics. National Public Radio credits Brooklyn Rider with “recreating the 300-year-old form of string quartet as a vital and creative 21st-century ensemble.” The musicians play in concert halls and clubs, in venues as varied as Joe’s Pub in New York City, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Todai-ji Temple in Japan, the Library of Congress and the South by Southwest Festival. Much of Brooklyn Rider’s desire to extend the borders of conventional string quartet programming has come from their longstanding participation in Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble.

Back to top

Fry Street Quartet with Robert McDonald, piano

Nov. 5, 2011
8 p.m.

“A triumph of ensemble playing” – The New York Times

Fry Street Quartet has perfected a “blend of technical precision and scorching spontaneity” (Strand). Since securing the Millennium Grand Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2000, the Quartet has reached audiences from Carnegie Hall to Sarajevo and Jerusalem, exploring the medium of the string quartet and its life-affirming potential with “profound understanding, …depth of expression and stunning technical astuteness” (Deseret Morning News). In its Richmond performance, the quartet will be joined by pianist Robert McDonald, a faculty member at The Juilliard School who has performed with several leading American string quartets and as the recital partner of violinists Midori and Isaac Stern.

Back to top

Ensemble Appassionata

Daniel Myssyk, conductor
Richard Raymond, piano

Jan. 21, 2012
8 p.m.

“I cannot give a stronger recommendation…pure bliss.” – Fanfare Magazine

“If piano playing ever becomes an Olympic sport, count on Richard Raymond to win the gold metal...a very romantic virtuoso...electrifying pianist...” – Toronto Star

Since 2000, the Ensemble Appassionata has become an important member of Montréal’s artistic and cultural communities. The orchestra has accompanied internationally acclaimed soloists, including guitarists Bill Kanengiser (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet) and Dimitri lllarionov, French horn player John Zirbel and violinists Yehonatan Berick and Darren Lowe. The orchestra’s participation in several international festivals, including the Arab World Festival and the Guitar Foundation of America, and its collaboration in the creation of contemporary Canadian works solidifies the Ensemble Appassionata’s position as a high-quality and highly versatile chamber orchestra. Pianist Richard Raymond has won numerous Canadian and international prizes for the depth and passion of his playing and is currently a professor at the Conservatory of Music in Montréal.

Back to top

Trio Solisti

April 14, 2012
8 p.m.

“Consistently brilliant” – The New York Times

“The most exciting piano trio in America” – The New Yorker

Trio Solisti has rapidly ascended to prominence since its formation in New York City in 2000. The trio is known for its unique blend of technical mastery, innovative programming, their embrace of 20th and 21st century repertoire and for their notably exuberant brand of music-making. In addition to their numerous appearances around the U.S., they have been broadcast nationally on St. Paul Sunday and National Public Radio’s Performance Today.

Back to top

Emerson String Quartet

May 5, 2012
8 p.m.

We are pleased to welcome the Emerson String Quartet who will replace violinist Leila Josefowicz, who was forced to cancel her planned performance due to personal reasons.

The Emerson String Quartet stands alone in the history of string quartets with an unprecedented list of achievements that includes more than 30 acclaimed recordings; nine GRAMMY Awards; the Avery Fisher Prize; and complete cycles of Beethoven, Bartok, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich string quartets in the world’s music capitals. This year, the Quartet will perform extensively in North America and Europe and continues its residency at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The Emerson is Quartet-in Residence at Stony Brook University, where its members have taught, coached and performed throughout the academic year. Since January 2002, violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer and violist Lawrence Dutton have performed standing, while cellist David Finckel sits on a podium. The Quartet is based in New York City.

Patrons who already have tickets to Leila Josefowicz will automatically be re-seated for the Emerson String Quartet, retaining their seat assignments; please bring your current tickets with you to the concert to gain admission to the concert. If you have questions or concerns, contact the Box Office at 828-6776 or by email.

Back to top