Friday / 15 October / 8 pm
ANDRAS SCHIFF AND FRIENDS
Andras Schiff, piano,
Yuuko Shiokawa, violin
Miklos Perenyi, cello

"…a pianist who swallows composers whole." The New York Times

A virtuoso and champion of monumental performance projects, Andras Schiff remains a chamber musician at heart. In this all-Czech program, Schiff, his wife, violinist Yuuko Shiokawa and cellist Miklos Perenyi will plumb the depths of the Slavic soul. Performing on his own Hamburg Steinway from atop his signature red stool, the concert marks Schiff’s Mandel Hall debut.

“Technically brilliant, there is great humanity in the finesse of their playing.” The Scotsman

In 2002 violinist Mikhail Kopelman, formerly of the Tokyo Quartet and the revered Borodin Quartet, invited his comrades to form the Kopelman. All graduates of the Moscow Conservatoire in its Golden Age of the 1970s, they share the dark, spiritual mantel of Russian playing, perfectly suited to this program of bar-raising masterworks of the late 19th and early 20th century.

“Truls Mørk is surely one of the two or three best cellists in the world right now.” Cincinnati Enquirer

Since he was the first Scandinavian to be a winner in the Tchaikovsky competition in 1982 and later as a winner of the Naumburg Award in 1986, Truls Mørk has held music lovers in thrall to his eloquence and fire. This spring Virgin Classics will release his recording of the complete Bach cello suites. Playing on a rare Venetian Domenico Montagnana cello from 1723, this will mark Mr. Mørk’s Chicago recital debut.

“When the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet makes music, it seems like there is really nothing else worth doing.” St. Petersburg Times

All former students of master guitarist Pepe Romero, the members of LAGQ project the rhythmic vitality and colorful harmonies of Latin music, but their repertoire embraces all types of guitar from Classical to Flamenco, from World to Bluegrass. They are famous for guitar transcriptions of classical masterpieces, like Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody, No.2, which will be a highlight of this exclusive Chicago performance.

"Mail from Mozart"
Mozart Serenade for Woodwinds and Contrabass in B-flat Major,
K. 361 "Gran Partita" with letters from Mozart

“A performance in which beauty was strived for so successfully and … delivered in such concentration that one imagined oneself in the company of the 18th century listener.” De Volkskrant, the Netherlands

The Netherlands Wind Ensemble is comprised of leading members from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Radio Orchestra and the Resident Orchestra of The Hague. They will perform Mozart’s sublime “Gran Partita” for 12 winds and contrabass (an orchestration preferred by the composer), interposing letters of the young genius to his father between movements, from a candlelit table, complete with birdcage and mechanical canary on stage.

Haydn Trio in D Major for Piano, Flute and Cello, Hob. XV:16
Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello
Schubert Variations on "Trockne Blumen"
Brahms Trio for Piano and Strings in B Major, Op. 8

“…about as close to perfect as it gets in this medium.” Albuquerque Journal

The Kalichstein/Laredo/Robinson returns after several years’ absence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s principal flutist Mathieu Dufour. Since their debut at Jimmy Carter’s inauguration, the KLR has been considered one of the world’s best blended, most intelligent and most sensitive trios. University of Chicago audiences fell in love with Dufour when he played duets at a moment’s notice with Emmanuel Pahud on Valentine’s Day 2002. The program promises at least one duet between pianist “Yossi” Kalichstein and Mathieu.

PROGRAM: TBA

“I don’t normally believe in channeling, but when the first indescribably physical sounds come out of her mouth, I am ready to believe anything.” Los Angeles Times

Known for her compelling characterizations, Hunt Lieberson doesn’t just sing a role, she inhabits it. She brings the same dramatic intensity to her song recitals. Considered one of the most beautiful voices of the age, this Mandel Hall performance will mark the former violist’s Chicago recital debut.

UPDATED MARCH 17, 2005:

MICHELLE DEYOUNG TO REPLACE LORRAINE HUNT LIEBERSON

Owing to a lower back injury, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson has been advised by her doctors to take a complete rest from engagements for the next couple of months in order to ensure a full recovery.

Replacing Ms. Hunt Lieberson is mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung. While making her Chicago recital debut, Ms. DeYoung is no stranger to local audiences. She is currently singing Sieglinde in the Lyric Opera's production of the Ring Cycle.

Since graduating from the Met's Young Artists Program, she has performed all over the world with the major orchestras and conductors. Her Dido for the Met’s production of Les Troyens inspired one of our subscribers to remark: “Her voice was so beautiful, it took one’s breath away.” She has already won Grammys for Best Classical Album and Best Opera Recording for Kindertotenlieder and Mahler’s 3^rd Symphony with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony and for Les Troyens with Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony.

This season she sings Venus in the Met’s production of Tannhauser and makes her debut with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic.

For her program, Ms. DeYoung will be singing songs by Haydn, Debussy, Strauss, Mahler, Duparc and Weill.

Note to tickeholders:
Tickets for the Lorraine Hunt Lieberson performance will be honored at the door.

There will be no refunds or exchanges.