2009 Saratoga Chamber Music Festival at SPAC, August 4 - 23

Season Highlighted by Ensemble Featuring Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax

Category: Press Releases  |  Posted: March 4, 2009

Other Highlights Include Musical Comedy, A Little Nightmare Music, Degas & Music with the Hyde Museum, Renowned Soloists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yefim Bronfman, André Watts and More

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Saratoga Springs, NY (March 4, 2009) - A chamber music concert featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax is among the highlights of the 2009 Saratoga Chamber Music Festival, August 4 - 23, announced today by Saratoga Performing Arts Center.  The Festival, which marks its 19th season, is presented in the Little Theatre is led by Director Chantal Julliet.

Headlining the August 11 program, entitled, Once in a Lifetime will be classical superstar and virtuoso cellist YO-YO MA. Acknowledged as the world's greatest living cellist, Yo-Yo Ma - the winner of more than 15 Grammy Awards -- performs as a soloist with the finest orchestras across the world and is one of the best selling classical recording artists of all time. Joining Yo-Yo Ma will be legendary pianist EMANUEL AX, described by the New York Times as "never less than spellbinding"; world-renowned conductor CHARLES DUTOIT, Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The duo will perform Beethoven's Sonata No. 4 for cello and piano.

As part of a first-ever collaboration between the Hyde Museum and SPAC, two chamber music programs celebrating famed French Impressionist EDGAR DEGAS and the music that inspired many of his works will be part of the Festival. In conjunction with the Hyde's special exhibit, Degas & Music (July 12- October 18, 2009) the chamber music program, Degas Among Friends, will take place in two locations - on Friday, August 7 at the Hyde Museum in Glens Falls and on Monday, August 10 at the Spa Little Theatre. The program for both locations will be identical and will feature gifted young pianist JEAN-FRÉDÉRIC NEUBERGER, who the Washington Post described as "a brilliantly polished, profoundly gifted young pianist" following his debut recital at age 20 at the Kennedy Center.  The August 7 chamber program at the Museum will be a fundraiser to benefit SPAC and the Hyde and will feature a pre-performance cocktail reception within the Degas & Music exhibit area and a post-performance reception with Mr. Neuberger and all the chamber artists. 

Bringing a twist to the Festival this year will be comedy duo IGUDESMAN & JOO, performing their hit show, A Little Nightmare Music. Its members, violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Richard Hyung-ki Joo are classically trained musicians who first met at age 12 as students at the Yehudi Menuhin School and shared the dream of bringing classical music to a larger audience. Now, years later, following in the footsteps of legends such as Victor Borge and Dudley Moore, the pair's critically acclaimed performances combine parody, slapstick humor and classical music. Their YouTube videos have made them celebrities with more than 7 million views, http://www.igudesmanandjoo.com/default.asp?show=page&id=2327.

Showcasing the young, rising stars of classical music will be an August 23^rd program entitled, Star Struck: The Next Generation. The ensemble will include Russian pianist KIRILL GERSTEIN who, at 14, became the youngest student ever at the Berklee School of Music and who at 30 is considered one of classical music's most masterful young musicians; twentysomething German violinist ARABELLA STEINBACHER who has become a sought-after soloist on the international concert scene since her unexpected Paris debut in 2004 when she filled in for an ill colleague; and cellist SOL GABETTA whose playing has been called "phenomenal" and "impressive."

Other soloists headlining the 2009 Chamber Music Festival include:

JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET - Hailed by the press as "one of the best pianists in the world," Jean-Yves Thibaudet is a versatile musician known for his mastery of color, nuance, and rhythmic intricacies.  He is sought after by today's foremost orchestras, conductors, and music festivals as well as for collaborations with pre-eminent musicians. He has performed on the scores of several films, including Pride and Prejudice and Atonement. Thibaudet will perform in the August 18 chamber music program, entitled Philadelphian Flair and Parisian Chic.

YEFIM BRONFMAN - Widely regarded as one of the most talented virtuoso pianists performing today, pianist and Avery Fisher prize-winner Yefim Bronfman was a former protégé of the legendary Isaac Stern. Bronfman is distinguished by a commanding technique that has earned him critical acclaim and devoted audiences across the world, and that led one critic to hail his "fire-eating virtuosity at the keyboard." Bronfman headlines the August 4 chamber music program, entitled Yefim and the Enchanting Romantics. 

ANDRÉ WATTS - One of the most celebrated, superstar pianists of today, André Watts performs each year with the world's great orchestras and for sold-out solo recitals as well. He has also performed frequently for televised concerts on PBS, the BBC, A&E with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, among others. Watts will perform in the August 9 chamber music program entitled, Tales of André, the Trout and Mother Goose.

"Under the leadership of its dedicated and gifted Director, Chantal Juillet, the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the most outstanding chamber music programs anywhere. Orchestra musicians and world-famous soloists alike look forward to the opportunity to perform in the dynamic, innovative ensembles that Chantal creates and audiences love the level of engagement and spontaneity that the intimate setting allows. In short, it's a program that not only draws classical fans - it creates them," said Marcia J. White, President & Executive Director. 

Order forms for tickets to the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival - and all SPAC programs - will be available online in early March. Tickets for the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival will be available for purchase online, via phone charge at 518-584-9330 and in-person at SPAC's Route 50 Box Office beginning Sunday, May 10 at noon.

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2009 Saratoga Chamber Music Festival

Tuesday, August 4 - Yefim and the Enchanting Romantics

Yefim Bronfman, piano

Choon-Jin Chang, viola

Chantal Juillet, violin

Harold Robinson, bass

Cello, TBA

BRAHMS Sonata in Eâ™­ Major Op. 120 No. 2

TCHAIKOVSKY Dumka for solo piano

DVOŘÁK String Quintet in G Major Op. 77, B 49

 

Friday, August 7  - Degas and Friends

6:00 PM at the Hyde Museum in Glens Falls, New York (fundraising reception to follow - details at spac.org)

Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, piano

Chantal Juillet, violin

The Wister Quartet: Nancy Bean & Davyd Booth, violins; Pamela Fay, viola; Lloyd Smith, cello

MOZART Sonata for violin and piano Kv 304 in E Minor

SATIE Three Gymnopédies for solo piano

DEBUSSY String Quartet

CHAUSSON Concert for violin, piano and string quartet

 

Sunday, August 9 - Tales of André, the Trout and Mother Goose

André Watts, piano

Jose Blumenschein, violin

Chantal Juillet, viola

Efe Baltacigil, cello

Harold Robinson, doublebass

Elizabeth Hainen & Janet Bouskova, harps

ROSSINI Sonata a quarto

RAVEL Ma Mere L'oye (arr. John Escosa) for 2 harps

KRUMPHOLZ Duo No. 1 in F major for 2 harps

SCHUBERT Quintet for piano and strings (The Trout)

 

Monday, August 10  - Degas and Friends (repeat of August 7 program)

Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, piano

Chantal Juillet, violin

The Wister Quartet: Nancy Bean & Davyd Booth, violins; Pamela Fay, viola, Lloyd Smith, cello

MOZART Sonata for violin and piano Kv 304 in E Minor

SATIE Three Gymnopédies for solo piano

DEBUSSY String Quartet

CHAUSSON Concert for violin, piano and string quartet

 

Tuesday, August 11 - Once in a Lifetime

Yo-Yo Ma, cello

Emanuel Ax, piano

Charles Dutoit, conductor

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 for cello and piano

And other surprises!

 

Sunday, August 16 - Igudesman & Joo: A Little Nightmare Music

Aleksey Igudesman, violin

Richard Hyung-ki Joo, piano

 

Tuesday, August 18 - Philadelphian Flair & Parisian Chic

Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

Richard Woodhams, oboe

Jeffrey Khaner, flute

Chantal Juillet, violin

Efe Baltacigil, cello

BEETHOVEN Duo for violin and cello, Woo 27

PROKOFIEV Sonata for flute and piano in D major

POULENC Sonata for oboe and piano

MENDELSSOHN Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor

 

Sunday, August 23 - Star Struck: The Next Generation

Kirill Gerstein, piano

Arabella Steinbacher, violin

Sol Gabetta, cello

Chantal Juillet, violin, viola

STRAVINSKY Duo Concertant for violin and piano

RAVEL Sonata for violin and cello

BRAHMS Piano Quartet in A Major No. 2 Op. 26

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