HAYDN: Piano Trio No. 39 in G Major, “Gypsy”
JANÁCEK: Mládí Suite
RAVEL: Mother Goose Suite
PRICE: Five Folksongs in Counterpoint

Stephen Taylor  oboe,  Robert Blocker  piano,
Wei-Yi Yang  piano,  with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

This program juxtaposes works depicting the exotic with works that evoke the ideas of home and childhood. Haydn uses gypsy music in his famous trio as a way of injecting faraway lands into the traditional classical form, and there are depictions of southeast Asian music in the Ravel. In contrast, the Janácek and the Price include music from each composer’s childhood, and additionally the Ravel was written for children.

MOZART:  Piano Trio in B-flat Major, K 502
BEETHOVEN:  String Quartet in f minor, Op 95, “Serioso”
BEETHOVEN:  String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op 127

Brentano String Quartet,   Wei-Yi Yang  piano

Wei-Yi Yang was “sensational.” — the new york times

“The concert made it clear that these players [Brentano String Quartet] could well be the best of the latest generation. Their level of individual technique was superb, while musical dialog necessary for rich chamber music was evident from first to last.” — philadelphia inquirer

CPE BACH: Flute Sonata
TELEMANN: Concerto for Flute, Horn, and Continuo
HARBISON: Twilight Music
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in C Major, Op 59, No. 3

Ransom Wilson  flute,  William Purvis  horn,
Melvin Chen  piano,  with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

Composers and performers have always sought instruments that enlarge sonic and expressive possibilities, and instrument makers have responded, making instruments capable of greater power and finesse. This program allows you to hear the step from harpsichord to piano, from natural horn to the modern horn, as well as the introduction of the metronome in Beethoven’s music, where the composer establishes a greater power over the performer by dictating with specificity how fast or slow the music should be performed.

WUORINEN:  Josquiniana
BRESNICK:  The Planet on the Table
RAVEL:  String Quartet in F Major

Brentano String Quartet

“Such was their ferocity on Saturday night that the instruments almost burst into flames…Make no mistake: the Brentanos are a magnificent quartet…This was wonderful, selfless music-making” — the times (london)

MOZART:  Overture from Marriage of Figaro
MOZART:  Oboe Quartet in F Major, K 370
POULENC:  Trio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano
SAINT-SAËNS:  Étude en Forme de Valse
PUCCINI:  Che Gelida Manina from La Bohème
PRYOR:  Thoughts of Love
SCHOENFIELD:  Café Music
MAURER:  Concertante for Four Violins and Piano

James Austin Smith  oboe,  Scott Hartman  trombone,
André-Michel Schub  piano,  with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

The concert experience in 1810 was very different from today. With a variety of performers, single movements, opera excerpts, virtuosic showpieces and lovely melodies, all on one concert, it was truly a feast for the audience. Here we offer our take on that model, with works ranging from Mozart to the 21st century.

MOZART:  String Quartet, K 458,”Hunt”
GLIÈRE:  Andante from String Quartet, Op 2
FRANCK:  Scherzo from String Quartet in D Major
SERVAIS:  Fantasie Sur Deux Airs Russes, Op 13
SCHUBERT:  String Quartet No. 14 in d minor, “Death and the Maiden”

Miró Quartet

The Miró Quartet pays homage to pioneers of chamber music in America by recreating this program of the famed Kneisel Quartet at the Schubert Club during the Quartet’s 25th anniversary season in 1910. While named for violinist Franz Kneisel, most of their programs featured a solo cello piece performed by Alwin Schroeder.

FELIX MENDELSSOHN:  Piano Trio in d minor, Op 49
FANNY MENDELSSOHN:  Piano Trio in d minor, Op 11
FELIX MENDELSSOHN:  Octet for Strings, Op 20

Wendy Chen  piano,  with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

Composers and performers have always sought instruments that enlarge sonic and expressive possibilities, and instrument makers have responded, making instruments capable of greater power and finesse. This program allows you to hear the step from harpsichord to piano, from natural horn to the modern horn, as well as the introduction of the metronome in Beethoven’s music, where the composer establishes a greater power over the performer by dictating with specificity how fast or slow the music should be performed.

C SCHUMANN:  Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op 22
C SCHUMANN:  Scherzo No. 2 for Solo Piano, Op 14
R SCHUMANN:  String Quartet in a minor, Op 41, No. 1
BRAHMS:  Piano Quartet in c minor, Op 60, “Werther”

Miró Quartet,  Melvin Chen  piano

Clara Schumann was a virtuoso pianist and an accomplished composer, as well as a profound influence on two of the most-revered composers of the Romantic era: her husband Robert Schumann, and their beloved friend, Johannes Brahms.

SCHOENBERG:  from Brettl-lieder (cabaret songs)
MILHAUD:  La Création du Monde arr. for Piano Quintet
DAUGHERTY:  Dead Elvis
DOHNÁNYI:  Sextet for Clarinet, Horn, Piano, and Strings

Frank Morelli  bassoon,  Martin Beaver  violin,
Melissa Reardon  viola,  Raman Ramakrishnan  cello,
Melvin Chen  piano,  Janna Baty  mezzo-soprano,
with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

All four works in this program incorporate elements of popular music into the world of art music. You will hear elements of jazz, of cabaret, of the sophisticated parties of the 1920s jazz age, and in the piece by Michael Daugherty, hints of rock and roll.

DEBUSSY:  Sonata for Violin and Piano in g minor
R STRAUSS:  Four Last Songs
SCHUBERT:  Cello Quintet in C Major, Op 163, D 956

Martin Beaver  violin,  Raman Ramakrishnan  cello,
Melvin Chen   piano,  Janna Baty  mezzo-soprano,
with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

This program features works written in the final year of each composer’s life — and each reflects a different take on the expected and impending end of life. There are flashes of mystery and brilliant light in the Debussy and Schubert works, whereas the Strauss provides a sense of calm and acceptance.

HADYN:  String Quartet in D Major, Op 71, No. 2
BARTÓK:  String Quartet No. 5
BEETHOVEN:  String Quartet in e minor, Op 59, No. 2

Emerson String Quartet

“The Emerson has staked its claim to being the one indispensable quartet in a world that is constantly creating more, excellent ensembles.” — newsday

VIVALDI:  Concerto for Violin, Two Oboes, Bassoon, and Two Horns
VIVALDI:  Concerto for Two Cellos
BACH:  Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
VIVALDI:  Concerto for Four Violins
MOZART:  Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major, K 414

William Purvis  horn,  Melvin Chen  violin,
Ani Kavafian  violin,  Ole Akahoshi   cello,
Gilbert Kalish  piano,  with  Norfolk Festival Fellows

We close our Chamber Music Series by showcasing the Norfolk Faculty and Fellows with a program of concertos by Vivaldi, Bach, and Mozart. Join us for this celebratory program of virtuosic playing by Norfolk Fellows and Faculty alike.

With a first-rate choir and ensemble, coupled with Simon Carrington’s remarkable programming, this concert has always been a highlight of the Norfolk summer. This stunning program showcases a range of choral music from four centuries, and includes works for chorus alone, some with a soloist and some accompanied by a top flight instrumental ensemble — and encompasses everything from majestic beauty, to works of intimacy, and always a piece of great humor and joy. All in the Music Shed’s outstanding acoustics where you’ll hear every detail. You won’t want to miss this one!

Simon Carrington  Director | conductor
Emilia Donato  soprano,
Ilya Poletaev  Associate Director | keyboards
Jacques Lee Wood, cello
with the Norfolk Festival Chamber Choir and Orchestra