Cellist

It’s all about love: A new work for clarinet trio by composer Seth Grosshandler that celebrates young love, courtship and the serendipity of meeting one’s intended receives its inaugural performance. Signature love arias from favorite operas and Broadway sung by Metropolitan Opera soprano Danielle Talamantes and Kerry Wilkerson. Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock (“My sweetheart dwells so far from me, I long hotly to be with her over there”) is a tour de force meshing clarinet and soprano. Resolved to retire, in 1891 Brahms encountered the clarinet playing of Richard Mühlfeld and was inspired by a fresh muse to compose once again. A scholar and close friend of Brahms praised the Clarinet Trio, writing that “It is as though the instruments were in love with each other.” An all-star ensemble that shares the stage with artistic director Yehuda Hanani includes clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein (“…treats his instrument as his personal voice, dazzling in its spectrum of colors, agility, and range”—Washington Post) returning to CEWM after several seasons. So concludes Season 33 of Close Encounters—bookended by the immortal Brahms, by inspiration and friendship.

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Close Encounters With Music: L’Amour Toujours – CEWM Commissioning Program World Premiere

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Two monumental works, two Russian ex-pats of the same aristocratic background—and two divergent extremes. One, a master of nostalgia and a formidable pianist, follows in the footsteps of Chopin. The other, a trailblazer, scandalizer and collaborator of Picasso delights in breaking old molds—though harking back to traditional Russian folk material—and ushers in a new age in music, conceptually aligned with Cubism. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring shocked tout-Paris and sparked riots (scenes from the film Coco Chanel will be shown). Rachmaninoff’s Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano was written after a course of hypnotherapy for “composer’s block,” out of which emerged a work of virtuosity and grandeur, with his characteristic flourishes and a Russian Bell Époque sensibility. “Terrifyingly difficult” for the piano, it is a virtual piano concerto—not to downplay the soulful melodic role of the cello!

Close Encounters With Music: “Rite of Spring” – Rachmaninoff / Stravinsky

Composed by Tchaikovsky to counter a bout of insomnia and melancholy, Serenade for Strings immediately cheered him up, and he reported “feeling well, invigorated and content”—as gratified listeners have over the years. Few composers have possessed the ability to reflect emotions within their music as well as Tchaikovsky, and the Serenade channels solemnity and joy (an homage to Mozart, a memorable waltz) into one perfect package. Barber’s iconic Adagio, “full of pathos and cathartic passion, rarely leaves a dry eye” (it was played at the funerals of Albert Einstein and Princess Grace of Monaco…). Holberg Suite (subtitled “suite in olden style” – 1884), one of Grieg’s most beloved works, offers chorale-like harmonies, joyous and lilting rhythms, and hints of a rural fiddle player.  Boccherini’s Baroque-era Cello Concerto, rewritten in a Romantic vein, is a virtuosic delight. The Vivace Chamber Orchestra is comprised of fourteen top-tier New York musicians who gather for periodic tours.

Close Encounters With Music: Vivace Chamber Orchestra – Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Britten, Boccherini, Barber

The ever-fascinating and intimate triangle—Robert and Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms—will be brought to new light with seldom-heard works that highlight the musical cross-references and spiritual bond that united them.

Close Encounters With Music: Drama & Melodrama – The Schumanns

**Close Encounters With Music: Gala Concert: Great Piano Quintets**

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Sunday, June 9, at 4:00 pm, as we celebrate the grandeur of Great Piano Quintets. This gala concert, part of the Close Encounters With Music series, promises to be a majestic journey through the realms of classical music, featuring some of the most profound and beautiful compositions ever written for piano quintet.

The highlight of the evening will be Dvořák’s sublime Piano Quintet in A Major, a piece that occupies a lofty place in the chamber music canon alongside Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34. These works, known for their symphonic scope, invite the audience into a world of powerful beauty, profundity, and nobility of sentiments, enriched with folk tunes and polkas. The concert will explore the fascinating relationship between Dvořák and Brahms, showcasing how Brahms’s encouragement and mentorship influenced Dvořák’s compositions.

Featuring an all-star ensemble led by artistic director Yehuda Hanani, the concert will include performances by brilliant American pianist Max Levinson, known for his deep and touching interpretations, and violist Jordan Bak, a rising star celebrated for his commanding presence. They will be joined by Ara Gregorian and Hye-Jin Kim on violin, and Yehuda Hanani on cello, making this a truly remarkable gathering of talent.

This event marks the conclusion of Season 32 of Close Encounters, a season that has been bookended by the miraculous output of Johannes Brahms and Dvořák’s folkloric genius. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the spontaneity and vitality of these legendary composers brought to life by an exceptional ensemble.

**Event Details:**
- **Date:** Sunday, June 9
- **Time:** 4:00 pm
- **Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
- **Tickets:** $28 for Upper Balcony, $52 for Orchestra and Mezzanine

Prepare to be transported by the sonic grandeur of great piano quintets in an ideal partnership of string quartet and piano. Secure your tickets now for an evening of timeless music that promises to touch the soul and uplift the spirit.

Close Encounters With Music: Gala Concert: Great Piano Quintets

**Event: Close Encounters With Music: Café Vienna Nervous Splendor**

**Date and Time:** Sunday, May 19 at 4:00 pm

**Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230

**Ticket Prices:** $28 for Upper Balcony, $52 for Orchestra and Mezzanine

**Overview:**
Dive into the rich cultural tapestry of Vienna with "Close Encounters With Music: Café Vienna Nervous Splendor" at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This unique musical event celebrates Vienna's historical significance as a pivotal European cultural hub from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The program explores a variety of Viennese musical styles, from operetta to waltz, and features compositions by some of the most influential figures in music, literature, and intellectual thought who frequented Vienna's famed coffee houses.

**Featured Composers:** The event showcases the works of Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms, Johan Strauss Jr., Mahler, Korngold, and includes the quintessential café music of Fritz Kreisler with his Caprice Viennois. The program also highlights Beethoven’s Piano Trio, which is based on a popular song by Weigl, and Schubert’s An die Musik, a sublime testament to his beloved métier.

**Performers:**
- Ieva Jokubaviciute, piano
- Xiao-Dong Wang, violin
- Emily Marvosh, mezzo-soprano
- Yehuda Hanani, cello

Join us for an afternoon that promises to transport you to the imperial City of Song, where charm, verve, and artistic sophistication of Vienna’s past come alive through its music. This event is a must-attend for lovers of classical music and those intrigued by Vienna's rich cultural history.

For tickets and more information, please visit the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center website or call 413-528-0100.

Close Encounters With Music: Café Vienna– “nervous Splendor”

**Close Encounters With Music: Something Borrowed, Something Blue Cross-Cultural Synergy**

Join us for an extraordinary afternoon at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, where the worlds of music, culture, and history intertwine in a spectacular showcase titled "Close Encounters With Music: Something Borrowed, Something Blue Cross-Cultural Synergy." This event promises an exploration of how cultures borrow from each other to create new, vibrant forms of expression.

**Date and Time:**  
Sunday, April 14 at 4:00 pm

**Location:**  
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center  
14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230

**Tickets:**  
- Upper Balcony: $28  
- Orchestra and Mezzanine: $52

**About the Event:**  
Delve into the fascinating journey of cultural exchange through music. From the Romans who appropriated classical Greek culture to the 19th-century Europe's Egyptomania craze, this event explores the myriad ways in which societies have been enriched by borrowed influences. The afternoon will feature a diverse program including the works of Gershwin, Max Bruch's Kol Nidrei prayer, Cesar Cui's Orientale, Ravel’s Habanera, Haydn Trio Gypsy movement, and more, showcasing how mainstream music is revitalized by foreign tributaries.

**Performers:**  
- Michael Chertock on piano  
- Itamar Zorman on violin  
- Yehuda Hanani on cello

This event is a celebration of cross-cultural synergy through the lens of music, demonstrating how the arts can bridge differences and bring people together. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the beauty of cultural exchange at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center website or contact them at 413-528-0100.

Close Encounters With Music: Something Borrowed, Something Blue– Cross- Cultural Synergy!

**Close Encounters With Music: Nocturne Night and Dreams**

**Date:** Sunday, December 3, 2023  
**Time:** 4:00 pm  
**Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230  
**Tickets:** $28 Upper Balcony | $52 Orchestra and Mezzanine  

Dive into the enigmatic world of night and dreams with the exquisite "Close Encounters With Music: Nocturne Night and Dreams" event at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This unique concert, scheduled for a captivating evening on December 3, 2023, promises to explore the nuanced emotions and mysterious allure that the night brings. From the peaceful repose of lullabies to the passionate serenades of love, and even the thrilling fear of darkness, this program covers the entire spectrum of nocturnal experiences.

Featuring a diverse range of compositions by legendary composers such as Mozart, Schubert, Borodin, and Bernstein, attendees will be treated to an auditory feast that captures the essence of the night. Highlights include Beethoven's enchanting Moonlight Sonata, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik in its original scoring, and a selection of Lieder by Schumann, Debussy, and Fauré. The universality of the night's theme is further demonstrated through arias from Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet and selections from beloved musicals like West Side Story and Man of La Mancha.

The event boasts an impressive lineup of performers, including Fabio Bidini on piano, John Viscardi as baritone, violinists Kobi Malkin and Grace Park, Luke Fleming on viola, Lizzie Burns on double bass, and Yehuda Hanani on cello. This ensemble of talented musicians is set to bring the enchanting and varied aspects of the night to life through their exceptional performances.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of the night through music at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Whether you're drawn to the tranquility of the evening, the romance of the night, or the mysteries that darkness holds, "Nocturne Night and Dreams" promises an unforgettable journey through the heart of the night.

Close Encounters With Music: Nocturne Night and Dreams

**Event Title:** Close Encounters With Music: Virtue and Virtuosity

**Date and Time:** Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 4:00 pm

**Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230

**Ticket Prices:** $28 for Upper Balcony, $52 for Orchestra and Mezzanine

**Description:** Dive into an evening where virtue meets virtuosity at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This unique musical event explores the intricate relationship between the inherent goodness of music and the exceptional skill of its performers. Featuring works that glorify the capabilities of their respective instruments and the prowess of the musicians, the program promises to stun and titillate audiences in the Romantic tradition of Paganini. Expect to witness the violinist's tight-rope walk on strings, performing feats that seem to stretch the instrument's capabilities to their limits.

The evening will showcase the dazzling compositions of Sarasate and Saint Saëns, including a performance of the gorgeous Rondo Capriccioso on the cello, a task exponentially more challenging than on its original instrument. The event will also introduce the audience to the works of Russian/Ukrainian composer Nikolai Kapustin, whose Preludes blend jazz and classical forms into a red-hot fusion that promises to captivate.

With a focus on pyrotechnics and acrobatics, mastery of content and form, and the magic that comes when craft meets ideal, the program explores fundamental questions about the nature of art. The event culminates with the emotionally compelling and ineffably beautiful Brahms Piano Trio Op. 8, promising an evening of unforgettable musical experiences.

**Performers:** Adam Golka on piano, Giora Schmidt on violin, Yehuda Hanani and Philip Thompson on cello, will lead the audience through this exploration of music's power to evoke both virtue and virtuosity.

**Additional Information:** For more details or to purchase tickets, please visit the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center website or contact them at 413-528-0100. Join us for an evening that celebrates the extraordinary capabilities of music and musicians alike.

Cellist

Yehuda Hanani

Events

Past events

Jun 8, 2025

Close Encounters With Music: L’Amour Toujours – CEWM Commissioning Program World Premiere · Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Mar 23, 2025

Close Encounters With Music: “Rite of Spring” – Rachmaninoff / Stravinsky · Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

Future and recently performed repertoire

Cello in Cello Sonata by Rachmaninoff

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

About

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