Harmony, Heritage, and Heartbeats: Princeton University Concerts
Princeton University is set to become a hub of musical brilliance with a series of captivating events that blend melody, heritage, and storytelling. From speed dating for music lovers to performances by world-renowned artists, these events promise to offer something for everyone. Whether you're exploring the delicate lieder of Schumann, the vibrant guitar soundscapes of Raphaël Feuillâtre, or the poignant kamancheh tales of Kayhan Kalhor, each event seeks to celebrate the diverse expressions of musical artistry.
Find your perfect harmony among music-loving singles* in your age group by participating in 8-minute speed dates while enjoying catered appetizers on the historic Princeton University campus! Everyone will then head over to the concert hall to experience the trailblazing Isidore String Quartet. May you enjoy Isidore with a fellow music-lover you adore!
In 1988, philosophy student Christian Gerhaher asked his friend Gerold Huber to read through some of Robert Schumann’s vocal works. Fast forward three decades, and the duo — firmly established as “the greatest partnership in singing” (The New York Times) — released an award-winning 11-disc box set of nearly 300 of the composer’s songs on the Sony label. Having brought their expertise to the world’s most venerated concert hall, they now make their Princeton University Concerts debut sharing some of these gems in a program that places Schumann’s lesser-known lieder alongside his beloved Liederkreis, Op. 39, deemed one of the greatest song cycles of the 19th century. This is an unmissable opportunity to immerse in the composer’s vocal writing performed by the one of the most fascinating lieder duos of our time.
The Djibouti-French 28-year-old phenom makes his Princeton University Concerts debut amid his meteoric rise as the new voice of classical guitar. In an hour-long program — grounded in translating works originally written for baroque instruments into the vibrant soundscape of the guitar — he will showcase some of the music included in his debut album for the Deutsche Grammophon as one of the only guitarists to have ever been signed by this storied label.
In the wake of the Iranian revolution, teenage Kayhan Kalhor left his homeland and family with nothing but a backpack and his beloved kamancheh (an Iranian bowed string instrument) in tow. Since that time, he has built an international reputation as one of the most famous performers and composers from Iran — touring with the New York Philharmonic; collaborating with John Adams as part of Carnegie Hall’s Perspectives Series; being nominated for five GRAMMY Awards; and winning a 2017 GRAMMY Award with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, of which he is an original member. And yet, the constantly shifting political situations in Iran and the U.S. have continued to complicate both his personal and his professional life. Get to know this extraordinary individual, who has continuously put his dedication to music and his culture above profound loss, anti-Muslim sentiment, and political unrest, in a conversation permeated by live performance, moderated by award-winning international correspondent for National Public Radio, Deborah Amos.
Breathe in sound and silence through guided meditation as you listen to music more viscerally than ever before, meditating to the playing of kamancheh (Iranian spiked fiddle) player Kayhan Kalhor, guided by Matthew Weiner, Associate Dean in the Princeton University Office of Religious Life. This is a FREE, unticketed opportunity to indulge in attentive, focused, and mindful listening.
Three-time Grammy nominee Kayhan Kalhor, the world’s premier Grammy-nominated pipa virtuoso Wu Man, and Guggenheim Fellow and Grammy Award-winning tabla player Sandeep Das are established soloists in their individual traditions. These artists, who forged a relationship through their work as part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, will join forces to create a new trio that highlights the ancient traditions of Persia, China and India in a 21st century program.
A long-anticipated return by the beloved Takács Quartet also serves as the debut of legendary pianist and composer Sir Stephen Hough. These revered musicians combine forces in a work often referred to as the pinnacle of Brahms’ chamber music: his fiery Piano Quintet, Op. 34. In addition to a string quartet by Beethoven, allegedly inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the program also includes a new string quartet written by Hough for the Takács Quartet.
Our resident ensemble of Princeton University performance faculty presents, guest artists, and talented students a Sunday-afternoon program of mixed chamber works.
The world’s greatest and only private ear, Inspector Pulse, inspects his own pulse and discovers the rhythm of life—the heartbeat! This leads him to explore stethoscopes and metronomes as well as a marimba, and concepts like tempo, beat, and polyrhythm!
May you find someone cute before experiencing the lute, together! Meet other music-loving singles* in your age group by participating in 8-minute speed dates while enjoying catered appetizers on the historic Princeton University campus! Everyone will then head over to the concert hall for an unforgettable concert with lutist Thomas Dunford, who has been hailed as “the Eric Clapton of the lute.”
The upcoming events at Princeton University promise to be a celebration of music's power to connect, inspire, and transform. Whether through intimate speed dating experiences or the captivating performances of renowned artists like Christian Gerhaher and Kayhan Kalhor, these events offer something for everyone. With an exciting lineup that spans genres, cultures, and generations, this series not only highlights the diversity of musical artistry but also emphasizes the shared human experience that resonates through every note and rhythm.