CMS returns to SPAC this Summer

“Our 2023 season carries a celebratory theme across all of our residencies, but none more so than with the 10th anniversary of our partnership with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “Over the past decade, SPAC and CMS have cultivated a dedicated audience of chamber music devotees in Saratoga Springs, and we are excited to the continue the tradition not just every summer, but year-round as well.”

CMS’s summer season opens with “From Classic to Modern,” showcasing works from Brahms and Beethoven to Bloch, Khachaturian, and Milhaud (June 11), followed by “Great Quintets” of Mozart, Dohnányi, and Dvořák (June 18); “From Vienna to Paris” (July 16); a program from guest artists the Miró Quartet (July 23); and “Spanish Journey” (August 13). The season closes with “New Classics” (August 20), which includes quintets by Bloch and Suk that CMS has ushered into the standard chamber repertoire.

Anchored by CMS Artistic Directors Wu Han (piano) and David Finckel (cello), this season’s guest artists also include violinists Arnaud Sussmann, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Stella Chen, Danbi Um, Kristin Lee, and Aaron Boyd; violists Paul Neubauer, James Thompson, Molly Carr, and Matthew Lipman; cellist Sihao He; pianists Wu Qian, Juho Pohjonen, and Soyeon Kate Lee; clarinetist Ricardo Morales; guitarist Jason Vieaux; soprano Rihab Chaieb; and the Miró Quartet.

“As we browsed through the six programs we have assembled for SPAC this summer,” say CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, “we were frankly astounded at how much more depth and variety is there than we’d even thought! In the hands of 26 different performers, the music of 19 composers from six distinct cultures will take our beloved SPAC listeners on a comprehensive chamber music journey. The diversity of instrumentation echoes these dimensions as well, from piano trios and string quartets to works for voice and guitar. Our residency also combines well-known repertoire by composers like Haydn and Mozart with that of composers making their CMS debuts at SPAC, such as the Swiss-American pioneer Ernest Bloch, with two works including his bracing Piano Quintet, which is quickly becoming a mainstay of the repertoire. And we take special pleasure in visiting SPAC in person on two occasions to perform once again in our favorite venue of the North, the acoustically superb Spa Little Theatre.”

Program information is below. Subscriptions to all six summer programs are available to purchase at spac.org. Subscription packages are $258–$378, depending on seating location. Single performance tickets will be available to purchase beginning on March 9 for the general public, and will be $48–$68 each.

“From Classic to Modern” — Sunday, June 11, at 3:00 PM Alexander Sitkovetsky, violin Ricardo Morales, clarinet Wu Qian, piano

Brahms: Sonata in E-flat major for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120, No. 2 (1894) Beethoven: Sonata in C minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 30, No. 2 (1801–02) Bloch: Exotic Night for Violin and Piano (1924) Khachaturian: Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1932) Milhaud: Suite for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano, Op. 157b (1936)

“Great Quintets” — Sunday, June 18, at 3:00 PM Ani Kavafian, violin Ida Kavafian, violin Paul Neubauer, viola James Thompson, viola David Finckel, cello

Mozart: Quintet in G minor for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, K. 516 (1787) Dohnányi: Serenade in C major for Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 10 (1902) Dvořák: Quintet in E-flat major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, Op. 97, “American” (1893)

“From Vienna to Paris” — Sunday, July 16, at 3:00 PM Juho Pohjonen, piano Stella Chen, violin Danbi Um, violin Molly Carr, viola Sihao He, cello

Haydn: Trio in E-flat major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Hob. XV:29 (1797) Mozart: Concerto No. 12 in A major for Piano and String Quintet, K. 414 (1782) Fauré: Quartet No. 1 in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 15 (1876–79)

“The Miró String Quartet” — Sunday, July 23, at 3:00 PM Daniel Ching, violin William Fedkenheuer, violin John Largess, viola Joshua Gindele, cellist

Haydn: Quartet in B-flat major for Strings, Hob. III:67, Op. 64, No. 3 (1790) Caroline Shaw: Microfictions [Vol. 1] (commissioned by the Miró Quartet) (2021) Dvořák: Quartet in G major for Strings, Op. 106 (1895)

“Spanish Journey” — Sunday, August 13, at 3:00 PM Rihab Chaieb, soprano Soyeon Kate Lee, piano Kristin Lee, violin Clive Greensmith, cello Jason Vieaux, guitar

Obradors: Canciones Clásicas Españolas for Voice and Guitar (1921) Albéniz: Mallorca for Guitar, Op. 202 (1891) Arbós: Tres Piezas Originales in Estilo Español for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 1 (c. 1886) Falla: Siete canciones populares españolas for Voice and Piano (1914) Sarasate: Romanza Andaluza from Spanish Dances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22 (1878) Rodrigo: Tres canciones españolas for Voice and Guitar (1951) Turina: Trio No. 2 in B minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 76 (1933)

“New Classics” — Sunday, August 20, at 3:00 PM Wu Han, Piano Aaron Boyd, Violin Arnaud Sussmann, Violin Matthew Lipman, Viola Sihao He, Cello

Haydn: Trio in E major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Hob. XV:28 (1797) Bloch: Quintet No. 1 for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello (1921–23) Suk: Quintet in G minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 8 (1893)