James D’Leon, who is featured in the Festival Orchestra performance of Rachmaninoff, returns to the Piano Series with his “Exciting pianism filled with powerful emotion”
Hailed by Hugh Wolff of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as “one of the finest pianists of his generation,” Schwartz has performed extensively in the U.S. and abroad in recent seasons.
Grammy-winning pianist Gloria Cheng, described by the New York Times as “an invaluable new-music advocate,”
Thursday July 25 3:00 PM Preston Hall Schwab plays "gorgeously spare piano" (The Boston Globe) yet "sounds as if she has an orchestra at her fingertips" (Sing Out). She was chosen by Ken Burns to play for numerous public television documentaries, including the Grammy award-winning Civil War and the Emmy award-winning Baseball. iPad/iPhone/Safari Users Click ...
An elegant preview of the Mendocino Music Festival's July Bachfest will be presented at the historic Berkeley City Club, an architectural masterpiece by Julia Morgan. Susan Waterfall, Jeremy Cohen, Mindy Rosenfeld, and Burke Schuchmann will perform highlights including the Musical Offering, D Minor Violin Chaconne, the Italian Concerto, and selections from suites and sonatas. No ...
Featured wines at this performanceAudience favorite Stephen Prutsman will play the Mozart Piano Concerto in C minor in the opening Festival concert. “Conga” by Marquez will have you dancing in your seats. Conductor/composer Allan Pollack will present his piece “A Summer Evening at the Boonville Fair,” that musically evokes the many festive aspects of the ...
Pianists Susan Waterfall and Carolyn Steinbuck will consider Bach’s role as father and teacher, and will explore the international influences on his music. The concert consists of the Two-Part Inventions, the Italian Concerto, the C minor Partita, and the 6-Voiced Ricercare from the “Musical Offering.” iPad/iPhone/Safari Users Click for Ticketing
Susan Waterfall will describe the history and significance of Bach's Musical Offering. Fascinating canons and the Trio Sonata from that work will be performed by Waterfall, with Jeremy Cohen, violin; Mindy Rosenfeld, flute; Burke Schuchmann, cello. On the second half of the program, the brilliant Bach interpreter Stephen Prutsman will play and conduct the Festival Chamber ...
Pianist Robert Schwartz is returning to the Festival to play Mozart Sonata in Bb Major K. 570, Mendelssohn Songs Without Words (Selected) and Brahms Sonata in F Minor Op. 5. Schwartz is an active performer and teacher, with international credits. He is often soloist with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and ...
The Piano Series regulars always welcome Paul Hersh’s lecture recitals. This season Hersh will bring his son, violinist Stefan Hersh, to explore Beethoven’s last violin and piano sonatas. iPad/iPhone/Safari Users Click for Ticketing
The concert will consist of the Mozart Quintet in E flat Major for Piano and Winds K.452, and the Schumann Quintet in E flat Major for Piano and Strings, played by the world-class Festival Orchestra’s principal players, joined by pianists Miles Graber and Carolyn Steinbuck. Mozart wrote his only piano quintet at the height of ...
Two of the most brilliantly talented pianist/composers from the New York scene team up to play the driving, rhythmic music of Adams, Reich, and their own compositions, as well as creative arrangements of popular contemporary songs. The eclectic program was drawn together by the performers' love of great music, regardless of genre, and their interest ...
Paul Hersh returns with his violinist son Stefan. They’ll play Op. 30, No. 3, an effervescent piece from Beethoven’s middle years. Paul Hersh will also perform the delicate sonata Op. 109, one of Beethoven’s final compositions. Come hear Beethoven chamber music as it was meant to be played, in a small, intimate setting with friends ...
Acclaimed worldwide for her “dazzling technique and deeply probing musicality,” Ching-Yun Hu has won many international competitions and has performed on tour with the Israel Philharmonic. This is a great opportunity to hear a rising new star at the beginning of her career. Scriabin Sonata No. 2 in g-sharp minor, Op. 19, "Sonata-Fantasie" (12') Schubert ...
Spencer Myer’s devoted fans will hear a radiant, diverse concert of Mozart Sonata K. 283, the Schumann Fantasie, the Ravel Sonatine, Chopin’s Polonaise-fantaisie, Op. 61, and three Bolcom Rags. Come enjoy this afternoon salon, which will be a rare chance to interact with and learn from this engaging and articulate artist. BUY TICKETS
Audience favorite pianist Miles Graber will bring two of his friends, violinist Jeremy Preston and cellist Robert Howard, to join him for a sublime concert of delicious chamber music. The Beethoven Archduke Trio is warm and wonderful; the Shostakovich trio is both ethereal and boisterous fun. BUY TICKETS
The rapturous music of J. S. Bach opens the 2016 Festival with all six of the rarely heard sonatas for violin and piano. Described as the “Jon Stewart of chamber music,” violin virtuoso Geoff Nuttall redefines what a chamber concert can be, with his creative daring and flair for entertaining. Nuttall is known for his ...
Tonight we celebrate instrumental masters: Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. There will be energy and passion in the tent, opening with the final movement of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony—an Allegro with great Brio. Then brilliant pianist Stephen Prutsman plays Beethoven’s 3rd piano concerto, a work immediately familiar and joyful, “turning the concert stage into a platform for the ...
Montage: Great Film Composers and the Piano The six film composers represented on this program have among them amassed 73 Oscar nominations and eight wins. “But,” ponders the introductory essay to Gloria Cheng's recent CD, “what melodies, harmonies, what cadences haunt their private dreams?” Hear selections from pieces written expressly for her by John Williams ...
Enjoy the fascinating programming and gorgeous pianism of this charming young pianist from Georgia. In addition to Haydn and Brahms, you will hear a rarely heard work by Lili Boulanger, sister of the great French pedagogue, Nadia Boulanger, who was a major figure in twentieth century music. Both women studied with Faure before Lili’s early ...
Praised for his interpretive vision and power, Atzinger's program includes his signature performance of the monumental Barber Sonata. Mozart Piano Sonata No. 17 in B flat Major, K. 570; Brahms Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118; Pierre Jalbert Toccata; Chopin Fantasie in F minor, Op. 49; Barber Sonata for Piano, Op. 26. BUY TICKETS
“A commanding presence at the keyboard” and an accomplished composer, John Novacek will perform the Beethoven Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2; Schumann Carnaval, Op. 9; Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, No. 1 in C Major & No. 15 in D-flat Major; Ginastera Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2; and Novacek 3 Concert ...
When you sit two acclaimed soloists at one piano, “you get something energetic and electrifying… out of this world.” Eva-Maria Zimmerman and Keisuke Nakagoshi have electrified audiences from Carnegie Hall to Tokyo with their dazzling artistry and outside-the-box thematic programming for piano-four-hands, blazing a bold new path for four-hands groups by focusing on 20th and ...
Featured wines at this performance Our inquiry into Schubert concludes with one of his most deeply felt orchestral works, the Symphony No. 8 in B minor (Unfinished); Richard Strauss’ Burleske in D minor for piano and orchestra features dazzling keyboard work; and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 closes the concert with ...
With a “refined kind of virtuosity,” Molly Morkoski will perform Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight); John Adams’ Phrygian Gates; and Chopin’s Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52. "...a refined kind of virtuosity.” Allan Kozinn for the NY Times "Outstanding!" Richard Dyer for the Boston Globe ...
Piano Series, with continued focus on Chopin In his recital for the Piano Series, John Novacek has chosen examples from four important Chopin genres: the etude, the nocturne, the impromptu, and the ballade. Chopin’s Etude in A-flat Major, Nocturne No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat Major, and Ballade No. 1 in ...
Piano Series, with continued focus on Chopin In his recital for the Piano Series Spencer Myer will play, among other works, the Four Scherzi of Chopin. Haydn’s Keyboard Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI: 31; Debussy’s Estampes and L’isle joyeuse; and all four of Chopin’s scherzi: No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20; No. 2 ...
Festival Orchestra with pianist John Novacek Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major. Ticket price includes pre-concert lecture at 6:30 CHOOSE SEATS AND BUY
Robert Schwartz is an active performer and a teacher in the Bay Area. His wide-ranging program will include Haydn’s Sonata in E-flat Major; Chopin’s Impromptus in G-flat Major and A-flat Major; Chopin’s Barcarolle Op. 60; and Brahms’ 8 Klavierstücke Op. 76. His playing was crystal clear and his poetic insights remarkable.” BUY TICKETS
By Tonality Joined Most known for his playing of Bach, Robin Sutherland will contrast some Bach works with pieces by other composers in the same key. This concert will pair Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp Major (BWV 848) with “partners,” the menuet movement of Ravel’s Sonatine, among others. After intermission, he will take us ...
Mario Diaz-Moresco, baritone; Spencer Myer, piano An afternoon of songs, old and new: Brahms, Schubert, and Barber will make up the first half; gems by Respighi, John Musto and Amy Beach will round out the program. BUY TICKETS
Susan Waterfall will play the Four Ballades Op. 10; Miles Graber, Larry Lowe, and Jay Zhong will essay the Horn Trio in E-flat Major Op. 40; and Carolyn Steinbuck, Jay Zhong, Tammie Dyer, Susan Freier, and Stephen Harrison will interpret the F minor Piano Quintet Op. 34. BUY TICKETS
Pianist Spencer Myer has wowed, inspired and touched Festival audiences many times, and is a warm-hearted and engaging conversationalist. Live from his living room in New York, he’ll give you a glimpse into his insights and process, including the nitty-gritty of practice, and he’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have. You’ll see ...
An enthusiast of the "Progressive" or "Art Rock" genre, and a performer in a couple of "Prog Rock" bands in the late 70s, Stephen Prutsman has been drawn to create solo piano (and fiendishly difficult) transcriptions of several Prog classics. For this short recital he's chosen "Sound Chaser" by YES and GENESIS' "Supper’s Ready." These ...
Audience favorite Spencer Myer returns to play Beethoven Sonata No. 27, Op. 90; Debussy’s Pour le Piano; and Chopin’s “The Four Impromptus.” Two pieces from Enrique Granados’ Goyescas suite—inspired by Goya’s paintings—will complete the program: Los requeibros and El amor y la muerte. CHOOSE SEATS AND BUY
Audience favorite Spencer Myer returns to play Beethoven Sonata No. 27, Op. 90; Debussy’s Pour le Piano; and Chopin’s “The Four Impromptus.” Two pieces from Enrique Granados’ Goyescas suite—inspired by Goya’s paintings—will complete the program: Los requeibros and El amor y la muerte. CHOOSE SEATS AND BUY
The Washington Post called Gloria Cheng “one of the most adventurous interpreters of contemporary music around." Among the pieces she will play this year are “32 Garlands for Steven Stucky,” tributes by a number of composers to their colleague and much-beloved professor/composer, who died unexpectedly in 2016. Stephen Andrew Taylor’s “Seven Memorials” was inspired by ...
Susan Waterfall will play Pavane pour un infante défunte, Oiseaux tristes, and Un barque sur l'ocean. She will be joined by Julian Pollack on “Mother Goose Suite.” Jenny Matteucci, soprano, accompanied by Daniel Lockert on piano, will present Cinq mélodies populaires grecques. The Piano Trio in A minor will close out the concert, with Sam ...
Jeffrey LaDeur is known for his rare blend of insight, spontaneity, and approachable, communicative stage presence. He is the founder and artistic director of the San Francisco International Piano Festival and president of the American Liszt Society, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich has been praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for her ...
The artists will play John Adams’ Hallelujah Junction for two pianos, named after a small truck stop on US 395 near the California–Nevada border. Pinkham’s Mechanical Transcendence for two pianos tells the story of an android that wishes to become human. Joep Franssens’ Old Songs, New Songs for two pianos will be followed by another ...
Susan Waterfall will play Sonatine. Silvie Jensen, mezzo-soprano, will be joined by Daniel Lockert on piano for Deux melodies hébraïques. Harpist Anna Maria Mendieta will be joined by a small group of string and woodwind players to perform the chamber piece, Introduction et Allegro. On Chansons Madécasses, Silvie Jensen, mezzo-soprano, will be joined by Mindy ...
Currently based in Germany, American pianist Rachel Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” (Gramophone UK), having “a beautiful piano sound and original detail.” She has enjoyed an active and successful competition career and has performed and taught masterclasses world-wide. Breen will put her own stamp on Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Nicolai Medtner’s Sonata Op. ...
American pianist Rachel Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” (Gramophone UK) and having “a beautiful piano sound and original detail.” She has enjoyed an active and successful competition career and has performed and taught masterclasses around the world. In this concert Breen will perform Beethoven’s Bagatelles, Opus 126; a “Suite of Miniatures” she ...
Embark on an evening of soul-tinged jazz and fusion, with a look to the future, marbled by intricate glistenings of electronica and hip-hop. This trio, who tours throughout the year with Chris Botti as his rhythm section, features Albion native Julian Pollack on piano and synthesizers, Juilliard-trained Dan Chmielinski on bass and synthesizer, and the ...
The second Fauré program will feature pianist Jeffrey LaDeur and mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich in L’hiver a cesse, an exploration of Fauré’s music for voice and piano. Jeffrey LaDeur is known for his blend of insight, spontaneity, and approachable, communicative playing. Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich has been praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for her “fearless technical ...
An active performer and teacher at the San Francisco Conservatory, Robert Schwartz has recently performed at the Beijing Conservatory, the Vienna International Pianists series, in master classes at the Chautauqua Institution, and at Portland Piano International. Recent performances in the Bay Area have included Mozart and Shostakovich concertos with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and ...
Each one a solo artist of distinction, Van Raat and Pinkham join up to make beautiful music together. They will play two-piano pieces by a range of composers: Chick Corea’s “Duet for Two Pianos in Three Parts,” George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm Variations,” Vanessa Lann’s “Second Nature,” Frederic Rzewski’s “Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues,” and William ...
