Composer

From the cold, clear quiet of a wintery morning, comes the music of an ancient landscape: the snow-strewn mountains and shores along the Baltic and Nordic seas. Richard Tognetti directs this extraordinary collaboration between the international vocal phenomenon Trio Mediæval, jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen and the ACO.

From Winter’s Stillness

ACO On The Pier

Next Level shatters all common stereotypes of a classical concert! This requires unconventional, experimental, and inspiring characters on stage and an open-minded audience that is curious about unusual program combinations, wants to be close to the concert hall with a drink in hand, and appreciates the dialogue with the musicians. Next Level, the other face of classical music – new, unsettling, exciting, intoxicating.

Symbiotic Clash

Tobacco Quarter Hall 1

Hear world-famous actor John Malkovich recite from Ernesto Sabato's classic novel On Heroes and Tombs. Along with a piano concerto by Russian composer Alfred Schnittke with Anastasya Terenkova as soloist! In addition, Vivaldi's The Four Seasons will be performed by The Funäs Chamber Soloists with a recitation of prose by Johan Rabaeus before the intermission.

Report on the Blind

Royal Swedish Opera

Violin virtuoso Gidon Kremer joins the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra alongside conductor and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos, for an evening of exceptional music. The programme will include music by Gubaidulina and Schnittke, both of whom composed for Kremer and are an integral part of his musical universe. Known for his passionate playing, Kremer brings his brilliance to the stage in a performance full of intensity and emotional depth.

Gidon Kremer

University of Oxford

An exciting dialogue between Baroque and modern styles will unfold: Corelli's renowned Concerto Grosso, a Baroque masterpiece, will be followed by Handel's Concerto Grosso, showcasing the splendid, festive character of the Baroque era. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, with its diverse instrumentation and sophisticated structures, is a shining example of his virtuosity and inventiveness. Schnittke's Concerto Grosso No. 1 blends Baroque tradition with modern sonic elements and unusual harmonies.

7th Symphony Concert

Theater Osnabrück

EPSG:4326

2nd Academy Concert

Atticus Margulis-Ohnuma, violin

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Lux String Quartet is a Twin-Cities based ensemble that brings a dynamic edge to performance and education. Since 2013, Lux has maintained an active presence in a wide array of musical spheres, from concert halls and churches to coffee shops and podcasts.

FREE Courtroom Concert: Lux String Quartet

Landmark Center

In this chamber music series, we meet our Philharmonic musicians in a more intimate format. It’s a space where members of the orchestra come together to perform their own favourite programmes – shaped by curiosity and filled with musical discoveries from both past and present.

Elegance and an Awkward Waltz

Stockholm Concert Hall

Thursday Concert 05: Lorenza Borrani

Mozarteum Foundation

“The Danish String Quartet, a youthful foursome with a casually fearless air, has earned its renown by matching a kind of preternatural ensemble precision with a sense of spontaneity and—yes—surprise”(Boston Globe). In the words of its members, “On a daily basis, we delve into works by great masters such as Beethoven and Mozart, but we also play the occasional folk music gig. We are three Danes and one Norwegian cellist, making this a truly Scandinavian endeavor. Being relatively bearded, we are often compared to the Vikings. However, we are only pillaging the English coastline occasionally.”

Danish String Quartet

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

The devil loves music—especially when a violin is involved. Some even whisper that he invented it himself! Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata, Paganini's lightning-fast Caprices, Schnittke's ghostly A Paganini —that doesn't sound like a human hand... or does it? In this concert, there's plucking, bowing, trickery, and seduction—until even the devil is amazed.

3.  Children's concert Devilishly good music

Theater Lübeck

The famous owner of the blue violin chose the subtitle "Old Style Concert" for his programme. He was inspired by the violinist Jan Kubelík and his famous recitals in Carnegie Hall at the beginning of the 20th century. Hence the emphasis on Paganini's highly virtuosic compositions.

Pavel Šporcl – Concert in the Old Style

Church of Saints Simon and Jude

Get ready for the ultimate buddy adventure! Bee-est friends Betty Bee and Billy Bee (no relation) are lost in the bee-autiful Fort Worth Botanic Garden and need your help to get back home. Bring the whole family to the Botanic Garden this spring for an ALL-NEW storybook exploration of nature and sound, with a classical music soundtrack sure to leave you buzzing!

Flight of the Bumblebee

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Here is a concert where past and present merge in a unique way. The DR Vocal Ensemble and Grammy-nominated conductor Daniel Reuss have put together an atmospheric program where it can be difficult to tell when Renaissance sounds transition into modern masterpieces – and vice versa.

Voices in the Dark

Roskilde Cathedral

Trinity Church Copenhagen

Violinist-director Jan Söderblom and actress Miitta Sorvali explore the possibilities and dimensions of laughter in a classical music concert.

Laughter Festival

Espoo Cultural Centre

The acclaimed string quartet of three Danes and one Norwegian return to perform a wide-ranging program from Ravel’s String Quartet to Jonny Greenwood’s Suite for String Quartet from the film There Will Be Blood.

The Danish String Quartet has established its pre-eminence among the world’s finest string quartets with its impeccable musicianship, sophisticated artistry, and, above all, an unmatched ability to play as one. Their performances are characterized by a rare musical spontaneity, giving audiences the sense of hearing even treasured canon repertoire as if for the first time. 

The Royal Conservatory of Music

It’s always a pleasure to welcome the Danish String Quartet to our stages. Over three previous appearances, they have captivated audiences with thoughtfully curated programs, peerless ensemble playing, and the unmistakable warmth and camaraderie that come from more than two decades of performing together.

New England Conservatory of Music

We are delighted to welcome back our friends, the Danish String Quartet. A highly acclaimed ensemble known for its extraordinary musicianship and dynamic performances, they bring a deep connection to both traditional and contemporary string quartet repertoires.  With a rich discography and performances at prestigious venues worldwide, the Danish String Quartet’s remarkable chemistry draws the audience into a deeply personal musical experience.

Clayton State University

Old and new, ancient and modern: Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev returns with an annual highlight of the SCO Season, rediscovering the musical splendours of the Baroque alongside more recent composers who have drawn inspiration from it.

Baroque Inspirations

The Queen's Hall

City Halls

A ballet triptych composed of three contemporary choreographies, primarily set to Polish music. The first will be performed by our youth group PBN Junior. The other two, drawn from the repertoire of the Grand Theatre, will be performed by soloists and the core ensemble of the Polish National Ballet.

Moving rooms+

Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

Camellia Symphony Orchestra: Dreams and Delirium

C.K. McClatchy High School

Schnittke’s Moz-Art à la Haydn is based on an unfinished fragment by Mozart and features playful themes from both Mozart and Haydn. The program also features Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Stravinsky’s chamber concerto, Dumbarton Oaks, which was heavily inspired by Bach’s Brandenburg series.

Orchestra Spotlight

St. Paul's Syracuse, the Downtown Episcopal Church

Internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean conductor Vimbayi Kaziboni is conductor-in-residence of Austria’s Klangforum Wien, artist-in-residence and conductor of the International Contemporary Ensemble, music director of the Composers Conference, and artistic advisor of the Boston Lyric Opera.

Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra

Northwestern University

Alina Ibragimova Plays Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Smouldering drama collides with daring humour in this vibrant matinee concert directed by inspirational Italian violinist Lorenza Borrani.

Haydn & Schubert

Dumfries Campus - University of the West of Scotland (UWS)

Antoine Tamestit : Chamber orchestra

Prinzregententheater

The beloved Danish String Quartet returns to the Twin Cities, following their hugely successful performance of the Beethoven String Quartet Cycle in 2021. As The New York Times put it: “The Danish play as if they have abandoned their individual personalities entirely to serve the collective—as if they were joined on a single instrument, armed with four bows.”

Saint Anthony Park United Church of Christ

For those who love the violin, Judith Ingolffssohn plays and directs a program of double violin concertos with concert-master, Min-Young Kim, including Bach’s only concerto for two violins: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043. It is, a work of remarkably expressive intensity. Double violin concertos by Schnittke, Vivaldi, and Handel complete the program.

Judith Ingolfsson Plays Bach

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Danish String Quartet celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2022-23, and the GRAMMY®- nominated quartet continues to assert its preeminence among the world’s finest string quartets. Formed when they were in their teens, they are renowned for impeccable musicianship, sophisticated artistry, exquisite clarity of ensemble, and, above all, and an unmatched ability to play as one. Performances are characterized by a rare musical spontaneity, giving audiences the sense of hearing even treasured canon repertoire as if for the first time. They exude a palpable joy in music-making that has made them one of today’s most highly acclaimed and in-demand classical quartets, performing sold-out concert halls around the world. Their inventive and intriguing programming and repertoire choices have produced critically acclaimed original projects and commissions as well as popular arrangements of Scandinavian folk music.

Albuquerque Academy

PCMS delights in highlighting the Jasper Quartet, one of today’s preeminent American string quartets which also happens to call Philadelphia home. Hailed as being “expressively assured and beautifully balanced” (Gramophone), the ensemble is joined for this concert by Julietta Curenton, a flutist known for her “bold and dramatically characterized playing” (Dallas Morning News) and a “tone that draws in one’s ear with sounds and ideas that simply cannot be resisted” (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Jasper Quartet Julietta Curenton, flute

 Benjamin Franklin Hall

The atmospheric and deeply spiritual music of Arvo Pärt has made him one of the world’s most performed and beloved composers. Alfred Schnittke, meanwhile, saw himself as a musical link to Mozart, Schubert, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. This concert features works by both composers – music rich in emotional intensity. Arvo Pärt turns 90 this year (on 11 September).

Arvo Pärt and Alfred Schnittke

Konserthuset Stockholm

It’s a bitter irony, but bad politics sometimes produce great art. Shostakovich wrote his Eighth Symphony at the height of the Second World War, and every bar of this colossal work resounds with violent struggle. Schnittke’s Viola Concerto was born in the dying days of the Soviet Union: a voice of sorrow, mischief and subversion beneath the grey skies of the Cold War.

Lintu conducts Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony

Barbican Centre

The Melbourne Ensemble presents a remarkable program that encourages you to listen blindly and openly, allowing the music to transport you to a spiritual realm.

Melbourne Ensemble: Lux Aeterna

Jon Kimura Parker & Valentin Radutiu

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

His characteristic musical style has made him one of the most well-known and sought-after composers of our time, who speaks to an enormous audience – even outside the classical music world.

DR Vocal Ensemble & Arvo Pärt 90 years

Sorø Monastery Church

Værløse Sogns Kirkegårde

Roots in the Exil – Music for the Planet II – Escape to Exile IV

Saanen Church

A magnificent mosaic of magnificent compositions and exceptional musicians: a concert evening with the LGT Young Soloists promises nothing less. The highly talented young members hail from over 20 nations, all performing as soloists and accompanying musicians. Since its founding in 2013, the ensemble has enjoyed success with this concept; two years ago, it made its US debut and toured internationally through Australia, Asia, and North America. Under the direction of their founder, Alexander Gilman, the LGT Young Soloists will present serene string divertimenti, romantic and wistful works by Max Bruch, baroque lightness from Schnittke's new music, Paganini virtuosity on the double bass, and, last but not least, the passionate tango counterpart to Vivaldi's classic "The Seasons."

Lgt Young Soloists

Ludwigsburg Residential Palace

Shostakovich’s Eighth String Quartet in C minor is one of the composers most personal works. There are striking allusions to Wagner’s »Götterdämmerung« and Tchaikovsky’s confessional symphony »Pathétique«. But Shostakovich also immortalised himself, with themes from earlier works as well as the musical code D-Es-C-H. The piece was composed in 1960 during a visit to Dresden, which was destroyed in 1945.

NDR Chamber Music Concert / Elphier-Quartett

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Fünf Freunde [Five Friends] is the title of the exhibition (which runs until August 17) dedicated to the works and artistic circle of Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Merce Cunningham, and John Cage. Examining cultural politics during the Cold War as well as the issue of what it meant to be a homosexual during this time opens up new perspectives on the historiography of post-war Modernism. As part of this collaboration, the musicians of the BRSO will be joined by more than 100 friends and will focus on the composer John Cage through chamber music concerts and panel discussions as well as “BRSO und du” programmes at Museum Brandhorst.

“105 Friends” – Chamber concert

Museum Brandhorst

With Noseda at the helm, Lisa Batiashvili’s performances of Schnittke’s postmodern, genre-defying Violin Concerto No. 1 are “full of fire, imbued with the spirit of discovery…” evoking “the sense that anything could happen.” Now, D.C. audiences have a chance to experience the “fantasy and fury… a performance to cherish” (Classical Explorer). To close, Shostakovich’s revolutionary Symphony No. 4 unleashes a wild, riveting, glorious assault on the senses.

Noseda conducts Shostakovich’s Fourth Lisa Batiashvili plays Schnittke

Kennedy Center

Experience the profound intensity and emotional depth of classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra's upcoming concert featuring the works of Schnittke, Shostakovich, and Brahms. This remarkable evening of orchestral brilliance is set to take place at the prestigious Barbican on Sunday, 13 April 2025, at 7pm.

The concert will open with Alfred Schnittke's Violin Concerto No. 1, a piece that showcases the composer's unique style and emotional depth, followed by Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 2, "To October," a work commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution with its triumphant and revolutionary spirit. The evening will conclude with Johannes Brahms' "Schicksalslied, Song of Destiny," an inspiring choral work that promises to move the audience from nobility through tempestuousness to a glorious resolution.

Under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda, and featuring the virtuosic talents of violinist Lisa Batiashvili, along with the London Symphony Chorus, this concert is a celebration of musical mastery across different eras. The London Symphony Orchestra, known for its world-leading performances, will bring these compositions to life in a way that resonates with both classical aficionados and newcomers alike.

Tickets for this unmissable event are available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, with options from £70 to £18, plus a £4 booking fee for online or phone transactions. Attendees can also take advantage of various discounts, including Wildcards for guaranteed entry with seat allocation on the day, multibuy discounts, and special rates for groups, young people, and students.

The concert is expected to conclude at approximately 8:50 pm, including a 20-minute interval. This timing is subject to change, ensuring an evening filled with unforgettable musical moments.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the powerful and emotive works of Schnittke, Shostakovich, and Brahms, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Book your tickets now for an evening of orchestral fireworks and choral majesty at the Barbican.

Schnittke, Shostakovich and Brahms

Schnittke remarked that he saw a ‘desperate striving to find myself’ in his First Violin Concerto. His self-criticism seems harsh, for this is a brilliantly original work, shimmering with instrumental colour.

London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda

Petr Popelka played double bass in the Dresden Staatskapelle for ten years before devoting himself entirely to conducting. The chief conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra is now returning to his former ensemble for a symphony concert. He is bringing with him a programme of Russian works that runs the gamut from Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky to Alfred Schnittke. The latter’s Viola Concerto is one of his most significant works, containing an array of musical references drawn from the late-Romantic and Baroque periods as well as contemporary music. This »polystylistic« approach reflects Schnittke’s inner conflict, which can be attributed to the exploration of existential themes as well as his own deteriorating health.

5th Symphony Concert

Semperoper Dresden

In his Serenade No. 6 dating from 1950, the American composer Vincent Persichetti combines two string instruments with a trombone, sometimes engaging them in an animated conversation, sometimes in a dreamy indulgence. This piece is followed by Gustav Mahler’s piano quartet, which was composed during his student days and is his only surviving work of chamber music. Apart from sketches for a scherzo only the first movement of the work has survived, which in this concert meets Alfred Schnittke’s piano quartet referring to Mahler’s quartet fragment. In this work, composed in 1988, Schnittke attempts to "remember something that did not come about (...), a sound quality that could not be thought through to the end." Mahler’s quartet sound shimmers through dimly, but is strongly alienated by clusters and polyphonic structures. The open end also gives Schnittke’s quartet the character of a fragment. The final piece is the colorful String quartet in D major by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, marked by its turn-of-the-century harmonies.

1. Chamber Music Concert

Liederhalle Cultural and Congress Center

Programs and artists are subject to change without notice. The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival follows all health and safety protocols required by Yale University.

Brentano Quartet and Rieko Aizawa

Yale School of Music

Experience the profound musical journey of "Sol Gabetta Interprets Schnittke & Shostakovich" on May 30 & 31, 2023, at Berwaldhallen. This exceptional concert features the world-renowned Argentinian cellist Sol Gabetta, under the baton of Greek conductor Constantinos Carydis, alongside the illustrious Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The evening is a tribute to two of the 20th century's most significant composers, Dmitri Shostakovich and Alfred Schnittke, who boldly navigated the complexities of political unrest without compromising their artistic voices. The program also introduces the audience to Minas Borboudakis' new orchestral work, "Z Metamorphosis," adding a contemporary layer to the evening's exploration of transformation and resilience.

The concert promises an immersive experience into the depths of Schnittke and Shostakovich's compositions, showcasing Gabetta's exceptional mastery and emotional depth. The performance will be broadcast live on Swedish Radio P2 on May 31 at 7:03 pm, allowing audiences worldwide to partake in this musical homage to courage, innovation, and the enduring power of art.

Tickets are available for both dates, but availability is limited. This event not only offers a night of exquisite music but also a moment to reflect on the role of art in challenging times. Join us for an unforgettable experience that celebrates the legacy of two musical giants through the artistry of Sol Gabetta and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Sol Gabetta Interprets Schnittke & Shostakovich

SR Berwaldhallen

The violinists Richard Soldan and Aoi Tomioka both study in the soloist class at the Jutland Music Conservatory. The soloist class is the highest level at the conservatory.

Soloist concert – Richard Soldan and Aoi Tomioka, violins

Musikhuset Aarhus

Young composers have been hailed as "the next Mozart" for  generations, but how did composers interpret Mozart’s legacy? Join  Parlando as it explores Mozart’s impact on classical music, culminating  in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Mozart and Salieri, the precursor to the Oscar-winning film Amadeus. The program includes Reynaldo Hahn’s charming Mozart Overture and Alfred Schnittke’s witty tribute to the 18th century, Moz-Art à la Haydn, before concluding with Rimsky Korsakov’s one-act opera, Mozart and Salieri, featuring Joseph Parrish as Salieri and Daniel McGrew as Mozart.

The Other Mozart Effect

Kaufman Music Center

For more than 20 years, the “superb and intensely focused” (The New York Times) Quatuor Ébène has been taking audiences on a remarkable journey of musical discovery. The French ensemble is known for both white-hot intensity and cultivating a striking palette of expressive colors through a fluid, organic sense of blend and balance. In its Cal Performances debut, the group plays Mozart’s ebullient Quartet No. 21 from his Prussian set; Grieg’s lone completed quartet, a work of striking originality and energy; and Schnittke’s kinetic and intense String Quartet No. 3 from 1983. “They appear to have thrown away the semantic rulebook to create fresh, compelling sound worlds from the roots up” (The Strad).

Quatuor Ébène

First Congregational Church

Critics have written of Quatuor Ébène performances that it's hard to imagine "playing at once more diverse and more brilliant than this… the possibilities of a string quartet were shown to be boundless" (Bachtrack). "The superb and intensely focused" (New York Times) French ensemble makes its Baltimore Debut with Mozart and Schnittke, and Grief's only complete quartet, one of this most expressive and richly textured works.  

Quatuor Ébène, (Baltimore Debut)

Johns Hopkins University

The constitution’s preamble begins with the words “We the people,” a term which over the centuries has taken on a life of its own. In the context of our concert, entitled Composers Without Borders – The Ties That Bind Us, we focus on the unity of humankind, not individual governments, whether open and honest or repressive and evil. There are countless common threads present in people from all over the globe. The desire and ability to express oneself through music is one which cannot be suppressed by leaders of countries. Music unifies and uplifts all people. Our concert highlights the unending compositional creativity of mankind despite the complicated interrelationships of the countries represented.

Composers Without Borders

New York Society for Ethical Culture

The violinist Luiza Labouriau studies in the soloist class at the Jutland Music Conservatory. The soloist class is the highest level at the conservatory.

Soloist concert – Luiza Labouriau, violin: As Hand in Glove

Having since performed with the Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Warsaw Philharmonic, Herbert’s 2021 performance of Bach’s six suites was one of the highlights of the season.

Oliver Herbert, cello & Xiaohui Yang, piano

Union College

From Bach to Jessie Montgomery & Mendelssohn’s romantic Quintet in A Major (from these 5 chamber music stars)

Calidore Quartet & Matthew Lipman, viola

Washington Irving Campus

Fans of Baroque music need look no further — join us for a concert that showcases SPCO members both as soloists and as stellar chamber musicians! Following Arcangelo Corelli’s titular Concerto Grosso, a full-bodied work that is both mournful and energetic, SPCO trumpeter Lynn Erickson will play a dazzling Baroque concerto. Works by Georg Philipp Telemann and Antonio Vivaldi provide unique instrumentations that highlight the musical diversity of the SPCO, while Philip Glass’ Echorus for Two Violins and Strings brings a minimalist sensibility — an ethereal heartbeat through the light pulse of SPCO musicians in unison.


Corelli’s Christmas Concerto

Capri Theater

Temple Israel

Manhattan School of Music’s public programs are made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

OPUS130 conducted by David Chan featuring Arthur Li, piano

Manhattan School of Music

Among the world’s leading violinists over the past 5 decades, Gidon Kremer has established and sustained a worldwide reputation as one of the most original and compelling artists of his generation. He has appeared on almost every major concert stage as recitalist and with the most celebrated orchestras of Europe and North America, and has worked with many of the greatest conductors of the past half century.  After winning a series of prestigious awards, including the Queen Elisabeth Competition and first prize in both the 1969 Paganini and 1970 Tchaikovsky International Competitions, his career erupted.

Shalin Liu Performance Center

2023 Summer Festival 10

Benaroya Hall

Curtis Institute of Music students perform over 100 free recitals during the semester, held on most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Admission requires advance registration and is complimentary.

Bassoon, Viola, and Piano

Curtis Institute of Music

Experience the fusion of classical music and modern technology at the "Classic X Live-Electronics" concert, presented by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. This unique performance is scheduled for Thursday, 23rd February 2023, at 7:30 pm, taking place in the vibrant setting of Munich's Werk 7. The evening promises an extraordinary auditory journey, featuring the talents of the BRSO Academy alongside members of the BRSO and the orchestra academy.

The program for the night is a carefully curated selection of classical compositions intertwined with live electronics, showcasing works from renowned composers across different eras. The lineup includes Johann Sebastian Bach's "Allemande for solo flute," Alfred Schnittke's "String quartet No. 3. 1. Andante," Maurice Ravel's "Streichquartett F-Dur," and Claude Debussy's "String quartet G Minor, op.10." Following an interval, the concert will resume with Steve Reich's "Six Pianos" and Bryce Dessner's "Aheym for String Quartet," bringing a modern twist to the classical music experience.

Leon Weber, a distinguished artist in live electronics, will join the performers, adding an electrifying dimension to the evening's repertoire. This concert is a part of the Classic X series, which aims to bridge the gap between traditional symphonic music and contemporary electronic sounds, offering audiences an innovative and immersive musical experience.

For those interested in attending, tickets are available for purchase online via the BRticket-Webshop. Don't miss this exceptional blend of classical music and live electronics, promising an unforgettable evening in the heart of Munich.

Classic X Live-Electronics

Werk 7

The Stanford Philharmonia, conducted by Paul Phillips, presents their Fall concert program from the Main Stage of Bing Concert Hall.

Stanford Philharmonia: Fall Concert

Stanford University

A Little Fun celebrates music’s power to express the depths of profundity and the height of absurdity in a program that unashamedly combines the sublime with the ridiculous. Well-behaved all the way to its conclusion, Joseph Haydn’s quartet nick-named The Joke plays a cunning prank on the audience, not to be revealed in advance! Jumping centuries, Charles Ives’s only piano trio combines transcendental serenity in its outer movements with the self-proclaimed outrageousness of its scherzo, titled TSIAJ (This Scherzo is a Joke). The twentieth-century Russians Alfred Schnittke and Dmitry Shostakovich supply potent doses of ironic humor, and Haydn gets the last word with a clever arrangement for chamber ensemble of his Surprise Symphony, so nicknamed on account of a single, outrageous note.

This concert is preceded by a free afternoon Prelude Performance at 5 p.m. by the 2022 International Program artists. Prelude programs will be announced in May.

CONCERT PROGRAM VI A Little Fun

Menlo School Campus

A concert in honor and celebration of the playfulness and depth of the “classical music” of the late 18th century. In the first half, concertmaster Jeff Thayer joins music director Rafael Payare and the strings of the orchestra for a violin concerto by the Black French composer, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges (a contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), preceded by Alfred Schnittke's witty reimagining of Mozart's Music for a Pantomime in the style of Haydn. In the second half, the wind instruments of the orchestra give us Mozart's glorious Gran Partita. This was the music, in the film Amadeus, which made Salieri exclaim: "It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God."

Mozart and Chevalier de Saint-Georges' Violin Concerto

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

Ettore Pagano e Massimo Spada

Teatro La Fenice

Pianist Onutė Gražinytė and cellist Edward King are returning to the Paliesius Manor! The performers will present them with a special and very expensive program dedicated to the 90th anniversary of one of the most famous contemporary composers Arvo Pärt. The program is composed on the principle of mirror reflection and is named after one of the works: “Spiegel im Spiegel” (Lithuanian: “Mirror in a Mirror”).

Dedication to Arvo Pärt. Presentation of the anniversary CD "Spiegel im Spiegel"

Paliesius Manor

In Stalin’s Russia, music really was a matter of life and death. Written under political oppression, Shostakovich gambled everything on his Fifth Symphony, and when it was first played, the audience wept – and then cheered. Make no mistake, this is a musical thriller with a devastating emotional punch, and tonight Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Hahn sets the scene with another Cold War classic, Schnittke’s haunting Viola Concerto, with the brilliant Lawrence Power as soloist. Expect shadows, secrets and some powerful surprises.

RSNO Season 26-27: Shostakovich Five

Usher Hall

Introducing Sanctuary, an experience where listening becomes a shared act of reflection and gathering. Step into our Hall, listen deeply, let your imagination wander, or simply rest and restore.

A Turning Leaf

Smith Square Hall

Join us for a programme that revels in the brilliance of strings and winds, led by Maxim Emelyanychev in the dual role of conductor and pianist for this captivating evening.

Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste

City Halls & Old Fruitmarket

Two world-class string players come together to perform a captivating sequence of music that interacts with film and animated designs.

Lawrence Power and Vilde Frang: Travellers Tales

In an SPCO first, we welcome the "dazzling" (New York Classical Review) Radu Ratoi for a program that melds orchestra with accordion. Praised worldwide for his originality, versatility and virtuosity, Radu describes the accordion — an instrument with a storied foundation in European folk and popular music — as capable of "almost unlimited possibilities." On the second half of this program, he explores music inspired by Baroque and folk traditions.

Radu Ratoi Plays Enescu and Bach

Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church

Shepherd of The Valley Lutheran Church

Celebrated for his warm stage presence, compelling musical personality, and cutting-edge programming, Canadian pianist Carter Johnson’s playing is described as “sincere, communicative, and intelligent”, “drop-dead gorgeous”, and even “the greatest thing since sliced bread” (Gramophone). Johnson’s competition laurels include finalist at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Competition (the first Canadian in history), silver laureate of the 2025 Honens International Competition, first prize winner of the 2025 Dublin International Competition, and silver medalist in the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Competition.

Carter Johnson, piano

Violinist Alexi Kenney and pianist Janice Carissa bring a fresh and compelling voice to the chamber music stage. Known for their thoughtful artistry and expressive depth, their performances blend precision with spontaneity, revealing new dimensions in both beloved works and hidden gems of the repertoire.

Composer

Alfred Schnittke

Events

Upcoming events

Jul 25 - Aug 9, 2026

From Winter’s Stillness · Australian Chamber Orchestra

Sep 17, 2026

Ettore Pagano e Massimo Spada · Teatro La Fenice

Sep 26, 2026

Dedication to Arvo Pärt. Presentation of the anniversary CD "Spiegel im Spiegel" · Paliesius Manor

Oct 2, 2026

RSNO Season 26-27: Shostakovich Five · Usher Hall

Oct 17, 2026

A Turning Leaf · Sinfonia Smith Square

Past events

Jul 25 - Aug 9, 2026

From Winter’s Stillness · Australian Chamber Orchestra

Jul 3, 2026

Symbiotic Clash · Bremer Philharmoniker

About

Alfred Schnittke hasn't added a bio