Jerusalem Quartet: Return to 92Y with Haydn, Prokofiev, Dvořák

Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 7:30PM
92Y - Kaufmann Concert Hall

The Jerusalem Quartet, formed while the members were just teenagers, celebrated its 20th anniversary last season.  This Season the Quartet presents three of the great string quartets to come from Central and Eastern Europe.  The Quartet’s recording of the Haydn string quartets, has received international acclaim: “Their playing has everything you could possibly wish for.  Miraculously honed intonation and perfect ensemble is matched throughout by an innate understanding of Haydn’s mercurial and immensely varied musical language” (BBC Music).  The ensemble pairs Haydn’s “The Lark” with the seldom-heard first string quartet of Prokofiev and Dvořák’s jubilant G major quartet in their return to 92Y since their Brahms survey in 2015, which was praised by The New York Times for their “exceptional quality as a team.”

Jerusalem Quartet
          Alexander Pavlovsky, violin
          Sergei Bresler, violin
          Ori Kam, viola
          Kyril Zlotnikov, cello

HAYDN: String Quartet in D major, Op. 64, No. 5, “The Lark”
PROKOFIEV: String Quartet No. 1 in B minor
DVOŘÁK: String Quartet in G major, Op. 106

Tickets:  $25 (35 and under), 40, 45, 55
Artist Website: Jerusalem Quartet

Art of the Guitar: Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and
New York Premiere by Pat Metheny

Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 8:00PM
92Y - Kaufmann Concert Hall

The Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, known for their extraordinary range of repertoire, virtuosic arrangements and integrated harmonies, returns to 92Y as one of the most anticipated artists in their Art of the Guitar series.  Bringing a program ranging from the French Renaissance to the New York premiere and 92Y co-commission of Road to the Sun written for the LAGQ by Pat Metheny, the ensemble continues to prove that they are at the forefront of contemporary classical guitar repertoire through their mastery and innovations with Baroque, bluegrass, flamenco, rock, new-age styles, and through their extensive and diverse discography.  The Los Angeles Times states: “Keep the emphasis on the superlatives for its unrivaled joy, technical élan and questing spirits.  

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
          John Dearman
          Matthew Greif
          William Kanengiser
          Scott Tennant

ALFONSO MONTES: Llanura*
BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major, BWV 1051 (arr. J. Smith)
TILMAN HOPPSTOCK (as Allan Willcocks): Suite Transcendent*
COPLAND: Two Mexican Pieces (arr. W. Kanengiser)                                     
    Paisaje Mexicano
    Danza del Jalisco       
Four Renaissance French Chansons:
    FRANCESCO DA MILANO: Mon pere si ma marie (arr. R. Savino)
    PIERRE CERTON: Je ne l’ose dire (arr. S. Tennant)
    JOSQUIN DES PRES: Adieu mes amours (arr. S. Tennant)
    PIERRE PASSEREAU: Il est bel et bon (arr. S. Tennant)
PAT METHENY: Road to the Sun* (New York Premiere, 92Y co-commission)

* Written for the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

A pre-concert talk is led by Benjamin Verdery, “Art of the Guitar” artistic director and chair of the Guitar Department of the Yale School of Music, before each performance in this series.  Talks are held one hour prior to performances and free with ticket.

Masters of the Keyboard: Marc-André Hamelin

Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 8:00PM
92Y - Kaufmann Concert Hall

The inimitable Marc-André Hamelin, whose 2015 appearance at 92Y compelled The New York Times to wonder, “Is it possible for a pianist to be too good?”, returns to 92Y with an all-Mozart program.  After releasing a Mozart double album on the Hyperion label last year, for which Mr. Hamelin records exclusively, Pianist praised his performance as, “...the technically most brilliant and perfect Mozart.” Mr. Hamelin pulls sonatas and rondos from this recording for the first “Masters of the Keyboard” concert in the series this season.  Among his impressive discography of over 50 recordings and an extensive list of honors, Mr. Hamelin has received a lifetime achievement award from the German Record Critics’ Association, and he is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada.

MOZART
Sonata in D major, K. 576
Sonata in E-flat major, K. 282
Sonata in G major, K. 283
Rondo in D major, K. 485
Rondo in A minor, K. 511
Sonata in C major, K. 545

Distinguished Artists: Isabelle Faust, violin &
Alexander Melnikov, piano

Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 8:00PM
92Y - Kaufmann Concert Hall

Musical partners Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov have received numerous accolades as individual artists as well as a performing and recording duo.  Their recording of Beethoven sonatas on Harmonia Mundi earned a Grammy nomination, while winning a Gramophone Award, BBC Music Choice Award, and ECHO Klassik Prize, among other honors.  Melnikov joins Faust and her 1704 Stradivarius, dubbed the “Sleeping Beauty” by The Times (London), for a performance at 92Y which includes Beethoven, Brahms, and a rarely-performed Busoni Violin Sonata.  

Isabelle Faust, violin
Alexander Melnikov, piano

BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonata in A major, Op. 12, No. 2
BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
BUSONI: Violin Sonata No. 2 in E minor, Op. 36a

Soundspace Series: Variation Trio

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 8:30PM
92Y - Buttenwieser Hall

Opening 92Y’s Soundspace series this season, situated in the intimacy and superb acoustics of 92Y’s Buttenwieser Hall, the Variation Trio gets its name from its mission to engage new composers, to collaborate in creating variations of existing works, and to construct a musical dialogue based on each of the accomplished artists’ experiences.  The Trio, formed in 2005 and comprised of violinist Jennifer Koh, violist Hsin-Yun Huang and cellist Wilhelmina Smith, brings a brilliant program of selections from György Kurtág’s witty Signs, Games and Messages, as well as Cloud Trio by Kaija Saariaho, whose opera L’Amour de Loin appears at the Met in December.  Finally, the Trio performs Andrew Norman’s The Companion Guide to Rome, painting a musical portrait of the composer’s nine favorite Roman churches.

Variation Trio
          Jennifer Koh, violin
          Hsin-Yun Huang, viola
          Wilhelmina Smith, cello

KAIJA SAARIAHO: Cloud Trio
GYORGY KURTÁG: Selections from Signs, Games and Messages
ANDREW NORMAN: The Companion Guide to Rome