Press Release: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s 2025 Summer Season
April 10, 2025
Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s 2025 Summer Season
Wu Han and David Finckel, Artistic Directors
Season highlighted by the series debuts of VIANO QUARTET;
pianists GEORGE LI and SAM SAHUN HONG; clarinetist SEBASTIAN MANZ, and French hornist NATHANIEL SILBERSCHLAG
Returning artists include pianists EVREN OZEL and ANNA GENIUSHENE;
cellist STERLING ELLIOTT, and violinists JULIAN RHEE and STELLA CHEN
CMS presents six Sunday afternoon programs from June 15 – August 17 at the Spa Little Theater, following its final spring performance on April 26
Saratoga Springs, NY (April 10, 2025) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) welcomes the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) back to Spa Little Theater for its summer residency from June 15-August 17. Led by Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel, the season is highlighted by the SPAC debut of the Viano Quartet, one of the most sought-after young ensembles today and recipients of the prestigious 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant. The next generation of star soloists gracing the stage include pianist George Li, following his 2024 SPAC debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra and cellist Sterling Elliott, alongside the return of audience favorites Arnaud Sussman, Matthew Lipman and Stella Chen. Part of its year-round presence in Saratoga Springs, the six-concert summer season follows its spring series, which will culminate on April 26 with Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence” led by David Finckel.
“Since expanding our partnership with CMS, we have had the privilege of opening the doors of Spa Little Theater to new and returning audiences, all four seasons of the year. We look forward to welcoming this dynamic roster of artists to Saratoga this summer, under the brilliant direction of Wu Han and David Finckel,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s summer season opens with “Beethoven and Dvořák,” led by Wu Han (June 15), followed by “Great Sonatas” featuring Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart (June 22). The series continues in July with programs anchored by “Mendelssohn’s String Quintet in A Major” (July 13), and “Beethoven’s Quintet for Piano and Winds” (July 20). Included in the season is the SPAC debut of the Viano Quartet (August 10) in a program offering classic string quartets by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich, and a closing program with major works by “Shostakovich and Dohnányi” (August 17) featuring CMS artistic co-director, cellist David Finckel.
Anchored by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors Wu Han (piano) and David Finckel (cello), this season’s guest artists include violinists Chad Hoopes, Stella Chen, Bella Hristova, Arnaud Sussman, Danbi Um, Julian Rhee and Sean Lee; violists Matthew Lipman and Paul Neubauer; cellists Paul Watkins, Nicholas Canellakis and Sterling Elliott; pianists George Li, Gilles Vonsattel, Evren Ozel, Sahun Sam Hong, and Anna Geniushene; clarinetist Sebastian Manz; flutist Tara Helen O’Connor; oboist James Austin Smith; bassoonist Marc Goldberg; Nathaniel Silberschlag on horn, and the Viano Quartet.
CMS artistic co-directors David Finckel and Wu Han commented: “SPAC has become CMS’s North Star, a destination we gravitate to both personally and professionally. The high quality of SPAC’s presenting, our distinguished artistic colleagues, the sublime setting, and of course SPAC’s audiences of devoted music lovers all serve to pull us up from New York City with irresistible power. We are especially excited this summer to introduce so many first-time artists to this series, as well as having the opportunity to perform some of our own favorite works with colleagues we treasure.”
The summer season follows two previously announced spring concerts offered by CMS. The final spring performance is slated for April 26 with a sextet, featuring Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir de Florence.”
All summer 2025 CMS events will take place at the Spa Little Theatre (19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866). There is one performance of each program at 3pm. Doors open at 2pm and the house opens at 2:30pm. Visit spac.org for more information.
To purchase tickets:
Subscriptions to all six summer programs will be available to purchase at spac.org beginning on April 10 until April 17. Subscription packages will be $240-$360, depending on seating location. Single performance tickets will be available to purchase beginning on April 18 for members (tiered by level) and April 25 for the general public and will be $45 -$65 each. Student tickets are also available for $18.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center residency is presented by Charles Schwab – Maureen Parker.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: June 15-August 17
SUN, JUN 15 | 3PM: Beethoven and Dvořák
Wu Han, piano
Chad Hoopes, violin
Matthew Lipman, viola
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Beethoven Trio in E-flat major for Piano, Violin, and Cello
Françaix Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello
Dvořák Quartet in E-flat major for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello
SUN, JUN 22 | 3PM: Great Sonatas: Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart
George Li, piano
Evren Ozel, piano
Stella Chen, violin
Sterling Elliott, cello
Mozart Sonata for Piano, Four-hands, in B-flat major
Brahms Sonata No. 1 in E minor for Cello and Piano
Beethoven Sonata in A major for Violin and Piano “Kreutzer”
SUN, JUL 13 | 3PM: Mendelssohn’s String Quintet in A Major
Bella Hristova, violin
Arnaud Sussmann, violin
Matthew Lipman, viola
Paul Neubauer, viola
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Purcell Fantasia Upon One Note for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello
Muffat “Passacaglia” from Sonata in G major for Strings
Mozart Quintet in B-flat major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello
Beethoven Duet in E-flat major for Viola and Cello, “With Two Eyeglasses Obbligato”
Mendelssohn Quintet No. 1 in A major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello
SUN, JUL 20 | 3PM: Beethoven’s Quintet for Piano and Winds
Sahun Sam Hong, piano
Tara Helen O’Connor, flute
James Austin Smith, oboe
Sebastian Manz, clarinet
Marc Goldberg, bassoon
Nathaniel Silberschlag, horn
Mendelssohn Concert Piece No. 1 in F minor for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano
Schulhoff Divertissement for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon
Mozart Selections from Divertimento of Mozart Arias for Wind Quintet
Dutilleux Sonatine for Flute and Piano
Beethoven Quintet in E-flat major for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano
SUN, AUG 10 | 3PM: The Viano String Quartet
Viano Quartet
Lucy Wang, violin
Hao Zhou, violin
Aiden Kane, viola
Tate Zawadiuk, cello
Haydn Quartet in D major for Strings
Mendelssohn Quartet in D major for Strings
Webern Langsamer Satz for String Quartet
Shostakovich Quartet No. 9 in E-flat major for Strings
SUN, AUG 17 | 3PM: Shostakovich and Dohnányi
Anna Geniushene, piano
Danbi Um, violin
Sean Lee, violin
Paul Neubauer, viola
David Finckel, cello
Kodály Serenade for Two Violins and Viola
Shostakovich Trio No. 2 in E minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello
Shostakovich Two Pieces for String Quartet
Dohnányi Quintet No. 1 in C minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is one of eleven constituents of the largest performing arts complex in the world, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Through its many performances, education, recording, digital, and broadcast activities, CMS brings the experience of great chamber music to more people than any other organization of its kind with a full season in New York, as well as national and international tours. Under the artistic leadership of David Finckel and Wu Han, CMS presents a wide variety of concert series and educational events for listeners of all ages, appealing to both connoisseurs and newcomers. The performing artists constitute a revolving multi-generational and international roster of the world’s best chamber musicians, enabling CMS to present chamber music of every instrumentation, style, and historical period. The CMS Bowers Program, its competitive three-season residency, is dedicated to developing the chamber music leaders of the future and integrates this selection of extraordinary early-career musicians into every facet of CMS activities. Its incomparable digital presence, which regularly enables CMS to reach hundreds of thousands of viewers and listeners around the globe annually, includes: a growing number of live-streamed programs; more than 1,000 hours of performance and education videos free to the public on its website; a 52-week public radio series across the US; radio programming in Taiwan and mainland China; appearances on American Public Media; the monthly program “In Concert with CMS” on the ALL ARTS broadcast channel; the NY-Emmy-nominated documentary “Transcending: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Celebrates 50 Years;” and performances featured on Medici.tv, Tencent, and SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall channel.
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