44th Annual Rockport Chamber Music Festival

I'm thrilled to invite you to this year's Rockport Chamber Music Festival, a celebration of artistry that spans generations—from rising stars to legendary soloists. Music has the power to captivate, challenge, and transform. It's meant to be felt in the moment—visceral, immediate, and deeply moving. It stirs the soul, offering comfort, reflection, and inspiration. Join us for an unforgettable journey through the beauty and emotion of chamber music.

Schedule of Events:

June 13, 2025

7:30pm: ANGELA HEWITT PLAYS BACH

Legendary pianist Angela Hewitt, a Gramophone Magazine Hall of Famer, opens the Festival with J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Renowned for her exceptional artistry, Hewitt is celebrated as one of the finest interpreters of Bach, praised by BBC Music Magazine for her "subtlety, beauty of tone and instrumental command."

ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Angela Hewitt occupies a unique position among today's leading pianists. With a wide-ranging repertoire and frequent appearances in recital and with major orchestras throughout Europe, Americas and Asia, she is also an award-winning recording artist whose performances of Bach have established her as one of that composer's foremost interpreters. In 2020 she received the City of Leipzig Bach Medal: a huge honor that for the first time in its 17-year history was awarded to a woman. Hewitt's Bach Odyssey cycle (2016–22), in which she performed the complete keyboard works of Bach across 12 recitals worldwide, was highly acclaimed.

Legendary pianist Angela Hewitt, a Gramophone Magazine Hall of Famer, opens the Festival with J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Renowned for her exceptional artistry, Hewitt is celebrated as one of the finest interpreters of Bach, praised by BBC Music Magazine for her "subtlety, beauty of tone and instrumental command."

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June 14, 2025

7:30pm: Angela Hewitt, piano

5:00pm: Benjamin Beilman

Violinist Benjamin Beilman, praised for his passionate artistry and expressive tone, has been called "pure poetry" (The Strad) and "a prodigious artist" (Le Monde). Beilman performs with the dynamic pianist Serena Wang for a program of works by Brahms and Korngold; and then combine forces with cellist Edward Arron for Mendelsson's Piano Trio No. 1, which Schumann claimed as "the master trio of our age."

PROGRAM:
BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78
KORNGOLD: Suite from Much Ado about Nothing, Op. 11

INTERMISSION
MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Janoska Ensemble is unable to perform in their June 14th concert. Rockport Music is thrilled violinist Benjamin Beilman, pianist Serena Wang and cellist Edward Arron will perform in their place.

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June 15, 2025

5:00pm: Dover Quartet and Roberto Diaz, viola

Named one of the greatest string quartets of the last 100 years by BBC Music Magazine, the two-time GRAMMY-nominated Dover Quartet has earned acclaim for its extraordinary artistry. Joined by violist Roberto Díaz, the program features Schumann's Quartet in A minor, Tchaikovsky's Quartet No. 1 and Brahms's String Quintet.

PROGRAM:
SCHUMANN: Quartet in A minor, Op. 41, No. 1
TCHAIKOVSKY: Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11

Intermission:
BRAHMS: String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111

ABOUT THE DOVER QUARTET:
Joel Link, violin Bryan Lee, violin Julianne Lee, viola Camden Shaw, cello
Named one of the greatest string quartets of the last 100 years by BBC Music Magazine and "the next Guarneri Quartet" by the Chicago Tribune, the two-time GRAMMY-nominated Dover Quartet is one of the world's most in-demand chamber ensembles. The group's awards include a stunning sweep of all prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, grand and first prizes at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and prizes at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. Its honors include the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, Chamber Music America's Cleveland Quartet Award, and Lincoln Center's Hunt Family Award. The Dover Quartet is the Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence at the Curtis Institute of Music and Quartet in Residence at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music.

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June 19, 2025

7:30pm: Isidore Quartet and Steven Banks, saxophone

The Isidore Quartet, recipient of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition, joins forces with saxophonist Steven Banks, a 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant winner. Their program features Ravel's String Quartet in F Major, Beethoven's String Quartet No. 12, Op. 127 and Banks's own Quintet for Saxophone and String Quartet.

PROGRAM:
RAVEL: String Quartet in F Major
STEVEN BANKS: Reflections and Exaltations (Quintet for saxophone & string quartet)

Intermission
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127

ABOUT ISIDORE QUARTET:
Winners of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and the 14th Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2022, the New York City-based Isidore String Quartet was formed in 2019 with a vision to revisit, rediscover, and reinvigorate the repertory.  The quartet is heavily influenced by the Juilliard String Quartet and the idea of ‘approaching the established as if it were brand new, and the new as if it were firmly established.'

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June 20, 2025

11:00am: Beyond the Music Last Works of Schubert

Join esteemed musicologist Andrew Shryock for a morning lecture celebrating and reflecting on Schubert's last years masterworks, including the String Quintet in C major (D. 956), Piano Sonata in A Major (D. 959), and Piano Sonata in B-flat Major (D. 960).

Each piece will be performed during the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, so join for an insightful lecture that will serve as a connecting thread. Don't miss the opportunity to take a deeper look into the music, allowing for a new perspective of understanding and listening!

Free, reservations encouraged. Light refreshments will be served for this mid-morning lecture.

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7:30pm: CHENG2 DUO

Rooted in a sibling bond, the Cheng² Duo (pronounced Cheng Squared Duo) captivates audiences with impassioned expressivity and contagious joy. Hailed as "brilliant" (The Sunday Times), "truly exhilarating" (The WholeNote) and "absolutely captivating…through a tremendous mastery of their instruments" (Pizzicato Magazine), the duo delivers performances of remarkable artistry.

PROGRAM
DEBUSSY: Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, L.135
RAVEL: Sonate posthume in A minor, M.12
FALLA: Siete canciones populares espanolas

Intermission
BEETHOVEN: Sonata for Piano and Cello No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69
WIJERATNE: Portrait of an Imaginary Sibling

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Cellist Bryan Cheng, prizewinner of the 2023 Virginia Parker Prize and 2022 Prix Yves Paternot, and pianist Silvie Cheng, 2022-23 Cecilia Concerts Musician-in-Residence and National Arts Club Artist Fellow, have been making music together for nearly their entire lives. Since officially forming the Cheng² Duo at their 2011 Carnegie Weill Recital Hall debut, their artistry has left lasting impressions across the globe, with extensive tours to illustrious concert halls and international festivals throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South Africa.

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June 21, 2025

11:00am: Family Concert Once Upon a Time

Enjoy a fun-filled performance that explores how music can tell a story, paint a picture, and express the entire spectrum of human emotions. You'll hear the cello and piano come alive as animals and movie characters, as well as discover sounds that you may have never heard before from these two instruments. Don't miss this interactive concert that will unlock the imaginations of children and adults.

Free, reservations encouraged.

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5:00pm: Marmen Quartet and Santiago Canon-Valencia, cello

The Marmen Quartet, First Prize winner of the 2019 Bordeaux and Banff International String Quartet Competitions, joins acclaimed Colombian cellist and 2022 BBC Next Generation Artist Santiago Cañón-Valencia for a performance of Schubert's Quintet for Strings, Bach's Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major and Haydn's Quartet Op. 33, No. 6.

PROGRAM
J.S. BACH: Cello Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009
HAYDN: String Quartet Op. 33, No. 6
SCHUBERT: String Quintet in C major, D. 956

MARMEN QUARTET:
With a growing reputation for the courage, vitality and intensity of its performances the Marmen Quartet is fast establishing itself as one of the most impressive and engaging talents in the chamber music arena. 2019 marked a year of significant achievement for the Quartet, with First Prizes at both the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition and Banff International String Quartet Competition, where they were also awarded the Haydn and Canadian Commission prizes. Other accolades include first prize at the Royal Overseas League Competition (2018) and awards at the International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition.

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June 22, 2025

5:00pm: Galvin Cello Quartet

Winners of the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and Winners of the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, the Galvin Cello Quartet explores the limitless range of a cello ensemble by bringing together new works representing diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world.

PROGRAM:
MOZART: Sonata in D Major K381 (arr. Valter Despalj)
DEBUSSY: Reverie
BEETHOVEN: 12 Variations on a Theme from Handel's Judas Maccabaeus (arr. Ka-Wai Yu)
GARDEL: Por una Cabeza (arr. James Barralet)

Intermission:
PAGANINI: Variations on a Theme by Rossini ("Moses") (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Blaise Dejardin)
ANDRE MEHMARI: Forrobodo

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Winners of the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and Winners of the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, the Galvin Cello Quartet explores the limitless range of a cello ensemble by bringing together new works representing diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world.

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June 26, 2025

11:00am: Beyond the Music Piano and Strings Chamber Music

The dynamic duo of musicologists, Elizabeth Seitz and Andrew Shryock will take the audience on a musical journey through time as  they explore the evolving role of the piano in string chamber music. This lecture offers an in-depth look at the rich history and background of this beloved instrument pairing, providing listeners with a deeper appreciation for its development and significance in chamber music.

The lecture will focus on the iconic piano trios and quartets by Beethoven, Brahms, Fauré, and Mozart, to be performed during this year's Rockport Chamber Music Festival.

Free, reservations encouraged. Light refreshments will be served for this mid-morning lecture.

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7:30pm: Mozart & Brahms

Four chamber music virtuosos—Paul Huang, hailed as "one of those rare artists who casts a spell" (Violinist.com), Alessio Bax, praised as "clearly among the most remarkable young pianists now before the public" (Gramophone) and Nicholas Cannelakis, described as "the superb young soloist" (The New Yorker) and Artistic Director and violist Barry Shiffman come together for an evening of masterworks by Mozart, Grieg and Brahms.

PROGRAM:
MOZART: Piano Quartet in E-flat major, K.493 GRIEG: Violin Sonata No. 3, Op. 45

INTERMISSION
BRAHMS: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8

ABOUT PAUL HUANG:
Recipient of the prestigious 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 2017 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, violinist Paul Huang is considered one of the most distinctive artists of his generation. The Washington Post remarked that Huang "possesses a big, luscious tone, spot-on intonation and a technique that makes the most punishing string phrases feel as natural as breathing," following his recital debut at the Kennedy Center.

ABOUT ALESSIO BAX:
Combining exceptional lyricism and insight with consummate technique, Alessio Bax is "among the most remarkable young pianists now before the public" (Gramophone). He catapulted to prominence with First Prize wins at both the 2000 Leeds International Piano Competition and the 1997 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. He has appeared with over 150 orchestras, including the New York, London, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestras, collaborating with eminent conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis and Sir Simon Rattle. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with Joshua Bell, Lucille Chung and Steven Isserlis, among many others and appears regularly in festivals such as Ravinia, Aspen and Tanglewood. Since 2017, he has been the Artistic Director of the Incontri in Terra di Siena Festival.

ABOUT NICHOLAS CANELLAKIS:
Nicholas Canellakis is one of the most sought-after and innovative cellists of his generation, praised as a "superb young soloist" (The New Yorker) and "impassioned … the audience seduced by Mr. Canellakis's rich, alluring tone" (The New York Times).

ABOUT BARRY SHIFFMAN:
Artistic director of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival and classical music at Rockport Music, internationally acclaimed violinist and violist Barry Shiffman is well-respected as a musician, educator and administrator. He was co-founder of the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ), and currently serves as both the Associate Dean and Director of Chamber Music at the Glenn Gould School and Dean of the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. During his 17 years with the SLSQ he appeared in over 2,000 concerts in venues around the globe and recorded several critically acclaimed discs under an exclusive contract with EMI Classics. He has also served in numerous roles at the Banff Centre, including Director of Music Programs (2006-2010), Artistic Director of the Centre's Summer Music Programs (2010-2016) and Executive Director of the Banff International String Quartet Competition, which he continues to direct.

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June 27, 2025

7:30pm: Imani Winds and Andy Akiho, steel pan

2024 GRAMMY winner Imani Winds joins forces with Pulitzer Prize finalist Andy Akiho for an innovative program featuring works by D'Rivera, Villa-Lobos and Akiho. Hailed as "strikingly virtuosic, immaculately tight, [and] stylistically agile" (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Imani Winds brings exceptional artistry to this compelling collaboration.

PROGRAM
D'RIVERA: Kites (arr. Valerie Coleman)
AKIHO: The Synesthisia Suite
VILLA-LOBOS: Quinteto em forma de choros, W.231
AKIHO: BeLoud, Beloved, BeLonging

ABOUT IMANI WINDS
Imani Winds is the 2024 GRAMMY® winner in the Classical Compendium category for Jeff Scott's "Passion for Bach and Coltrane" released on their recently formed record label, Imani Winds Media.

ABOUT ANDY AKIHO
Andy Akiho is a "trailblazing" (Los Angeles Times) Pulitzer Prize finalist and seven-time GRAMMY®-nominated composer whose bold works unravel intricate and unexpected patterns while surpassing preconceived boundaries of classical music. Called "increasingly in-demand" by The New York Times, Akiho has earned international acclaim for his large-scale works that emphasize the natural theatricality of live performance. He is the only composer to be nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

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June 28, 2025

7:30: All-Schubert Jonathan Biss, piano

Jonathan Biss, praised as "a superb pianist and…an eloquent and insightful music writer" (The Boston Globe), performs Schubert's final sonatas, the Sonata in A Major, D.959 and Sonata in B-flat Major, D.960. Composed in the last months of Schubert's life, these works are celebrated for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth and profound introspection.

All-Schubert Program
Piano Sonata in A major, D.959

Intermission
Piano Sonata in B-flat major, D.960

Praised as "a superb pianist and also an eloquent and insightful music writer" (The Boston Globe) with "impeccable taste and a formidable technique" (The New Yorker), Jonathan Biss is a world-renowned educator and a critically acclaimed author. He has appeared internationally as a soloist with the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, the Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco Symphonies, and the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras as well as the London Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw, the Philharmonia, and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, among many other ensembles. Biss is also Co-Artistic Director alongside Mitsuko Uchida at the Marlboro Music Festival, where he has spent fifteen summers.

Recent orchestral performances have included the Saint Louis Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, along with European engagements in London, Milan and Paris, among others. In the 2023-24 season, Biss presented a new project that pairs solo piano works by Schubert with new compositions by Alvin Singleton, Tyson Gholston Davis, and Tyshawn Sorey at San Francisco Performances and Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, among many others. He has continued his collaboration with Mitsuko Uchida featuring Schubert's music for piano 4-hands at Carnegie Hall and more.

Jonathan Biss was born in 1980, commenced piano studies at the age of 6, and at 17 entered the Curtis Institute where he studied with Leon Fleisher.

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June 29, 2025

5:00pm: A Far Cry with Jeremy Eichler and Julian Rhee

Hosted by former Boston Globe critic Jeremy Eichler and drawn from his award-winning book Time's Echo (History Book of the Year, The Sunday Times), this unique program blends storytelling and live performance, inviting you to listen more deeply to the history of music — and the music of history. The concert features works by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Strauss.

PROGRAM:
J.S. BACH: Chaconne from Partita No. 2, BWV 1004
MENDELSSOHN: String Octet, Op. 20 Mvt. 4 (vsn for string orchestra)
R. STRAUSS: Metamorphosen

ABOUT A FAR CRY:
Described as "Boston's popular, brilliant, conductorless chamber orchestra" by WBUR, A Far Cry is known for its innovative and compelling programs, as well as the democratic process that drives that programming. A Far Cry was founded in 2007 on the belief that every voice deserves to be heard; so instead of one artistic director, the collective of musicians ("Criers") curate and submit program ideas inspired by individual curiosities, the greater musical community, and what is happening in the world at large. The result is a dynamic representation of music and collaborators across genres and backgrounds.

ABOUT JEREMY EICHLER:
A writer, scholar and critic, Jeremy Eichler is the author of Time's Echo, an internationally acclaimed book on music, war and memory that was named "History Book of the Year" by The Sunday Times and hailed as "the outstanding music book of this and several years" by the Times Literary Supplement. Chosen as a notable book of 2023 by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and NPR, Time's Echo won three National Jewish Book Awards including "Book of the Year," and was a finalist for the UK's premier non-fiction award, the Baillie Gifford Prize. Currently being translated into nine languages, Time's Echo is also the recipient of the 2024 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Society for "studies that contribute significantly to interpretations of the intellectual and cultural condition of humanity."

ABOUT JULIAN RHEE:
Winner of the prestigious 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Korean American violinist Julian Rhee came to international prominence following his prize-winning performances at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition and the Silver Medal at the 11th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.

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July 1, 2025

7:30: Film: Beethoven's Nine: Ode to Humanity

Featuring an Exclusive Panel Discussion Session with:
Larry Weinstein, director Jeremy Eichler, author Steven Pinker, Harvard Professor of Psychology and author Rebecca Goldstein, Harvard Professor of Psychology and author

Celebrate Beethoven's iconic last symphony with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Larry Weinstein. This compelling documentary explores the enduring legacy of Beethoven's Ninth through the perspectives of nine individuals, from Ukrainian musicians to a deaf composer, highlighting its profound themes of struggle, hope and humanity. The evening will feature a panel discussion with director Larry Weinstein, author Jeremy Eichler and Harvard psychology professors Steven Pinker and Rebecca Goldstein.

In early 2023, filmmaker Larry Weinstein set out to make a documentary about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It was supposed to be about how far we have come in the two hundred years since it was written. But when world events pull Larry into his own film, the question becomes a deeply personal one. Beethoven's Nine is a documentary about music, but also about war and hope. It follows nine unique individuals, including Ukrainian musicians, a deaf composer, a Polish rock star, a best-selling author, a legendary cartoonist and Weinstein himself, as they try to better understand the legacy of Beethoven's Ninth, the composer's own struggles, the inspiration music can provide and how humanity continues to look for hope even in the darkest times.

Oscar-nominated writer and director Larry Weinstein is one of Canada's most prolific and accomplished documentary filmmakers who has been honored with retrospectives around the world and broadcasts in more than 40 countries. The majority of his 30 award-winning films center on music and the creative process while his other subjects range from the horrors of war to the pleasures of football.

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July 5, 2025

7:30pm: Faure Project

Commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gabriel Fauré's death with two concerts featuring his most celebrated chamber works, performed by the world's most celebrated musicians, featuring violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Steven Isserlis, pianist Jeremy Denk and many more. From violin sonatas to piano quintets, these programs offer a rich exploration of Fauré's artistry, performed by an exceptional ensemble of renowned musicians.

SATURDAY PROGRAM: Faure
Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13 (Bell, Denk)
Barcarolle No. 5, Op. 66 (Denk)
Piano trio in D minor, Op. 120 (Bell, Isserlis, Denk)

Intermission:
Sicilienne, Op. 78 & Berceuse, Op. 16 (Isserlis, Denk)
Piano Quintet No. 1 in D minor, Op. 89 (Bell, Duval, Engstroem, Isserlis, Denk)

ABOUT JOSHUA BELL:
With a career spanning almost four decades, GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Bell has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world and continues to maintain engagements as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, conductor and as the Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Highlights from the 2023-24 season include an international tour of his newly commissioned project, The Elements, a six-movement violin concerto from five different composers, and the release of his album Butterfly Lovers with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Bell's highlights for the 2024-25 season include the release of two new albums: Thomas De Hartmann Rediscovered, featuring the World Premiere recording of Ukrainian composer Thomas De Hartmann's Violin Concerto, and an album of Mendelssohn piano trios, which Bell recorded with longtime friends and collaborators Jeremy Denk and Steven Isserlis.

ABOUT STEVEN ISSERLIS:
Acclaimed worldwide for his profound musicianship and technical mastery, British cellist Steven Isserlis enjoys a distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster.

As concerto soloist he appears regularly with the world's leading orchestras and conductors, and plays with the world's foremost chamber orchestras. His interest in authentic performance has included collaborations with period-instrument ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Recordings include the Chopin Cello Sonata with Dénes Várjon using one of Chopin's own pianos, a performance with Andras Schiff at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn using Beethoven's own cello, and performances and recordings with Robert Levin of Beethoven's complete music for cello and piano using original or replica fortepianos. With harpsichordist Richard Egarr, Isserlis recorded the viola da gamba sonatas of J.S. Bach and sonatas by Handel and Scarlatti.  His critically-acclaimed recording of Bach's complete Solo Cello Suites was Gramophone's Instrumental Album of the Year. He has also premiered many new works by contemporary composers including John Tavener, Stephen Hough and Olli Mustonen.

ABOUT JEREMY DENK:
Jeremy Denk is one America's foremost pianists, hailed by The New York Times as an artist "you want to hear no matter what he performs." Denk is also a New York Times bestselling author, winner of both the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has performed multiple times at Carnegie Hall and in recent years has worked with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. Recent highlights include his extensive performances of Bach's Well-Tempered Klavier Book 1 and performances of John Adams' Must the Devil Have All The Great Tunes? with the Cleveland Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Seattle Symphony.

ABOUT IRENE DUVAL:
Praised for "her mastery of phrasing and of the dramatic dimension" (Diapason), "astonishing virtuosity" (Revelation Classiques) and her "infinite delicacy" (Le Populaire du centre), Irène Duval has won multiple international competitions and is an active performer of concerti, recitals and chamber music.

Duval has performed widely in Europe, including recitals at major venues and collaborations with orchestras such as the Dresdner Philharmonie, and Sinfonia Varsovia at the National Forum in Tokyo; past chamber music collaborators include Gidon Kremer and Christian Tetzlaff. This season, she performs at the Festival de Musica de Canarias with Joshua Bell, Blythe-Engstroem, and Steven Isserlis; at Wigmore Hall with Isserlis and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet; she returns to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Mendelssohn's Concerto, and in Sheffield for a celebration of Gabriel Fauré's music. Fauré is the central composer of her 2024 recital recording with Angus Webster released by Capriccio.

ABOUT BLYTHE TEH ENGSTROEM:
American violist Blythe Teh Engstroem studied violin with Nelli Shkolnikova and viola with Atar Arad at Indiana University Bloomington. She subsequently studied with Andrés Cárdenes in Pittsburgh. A passionate chamber musician, she has collaborated with Menahem Pressler, Yuja Wang, Lisa Batiashvili, Joshua Bell, Renaud Capuçon, Leonidas Kavakos, Pinchas Zukerman, Lawrence Power, Nobuko Imai, Gautier Capuçon and the Quatuor Ébène.

She was a member of the Quatuor Terpsycordes (Switzerland). Blythe has performed at numerous festivals in Europe and the Far East and is a regular soloist at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. She is a founding member of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra which, under Gábor Takács-Nagy, tours regularly with artists including Martha Argerich, Joshua Bell and Maxim Vengerov. She has been the Chamber Orchestra's concertmaster and currently leads the viola section. Blythe plays on a beautiful Maggini viola, on generous loan from a private benefactor.

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July 6, 2025

5:00pm: Faure Project

Commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gabriel Fauré's death with two concerts featuring his most celebrated chamber works, performed by the world's most celebrated musicians, featuring violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Steven Isserlis, pianist Jeremy Denk and many more. From violin sonatas to piano quintets, these programs offer a rich exploration of Fauré's artistry, performed by an exceptional ensemble of renowned musicians.

SUNDAY PROGRAM: Faure
Violin Sonata No. 2. in E minor, Op. 108 (Duval, Denk)
Nocturne No. 13 in B minor, Op. 119 (Denk)
String Quartet in E minor, Op. 121 (Bell, Duval, Engstroem, Isserlis)

Intermission
Romance, Op. 69 & Elegie, Op. 24 (Isserlis, Denk)
Piano Quintet No. 2 in C minor, Op. 115 (Bell, Duval, Engstroem, Isserlis, Denk)

ABOUT JOSHUA BELL:
With a career spanning almost four decades, GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Bell has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world and continues to maintain engagements as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, conductor and as the Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Highlights from the 2023-24 season include an international tour of his newly commissioned project, The Elements, a six-movement violin concerto from five different composers, and the release of his album Butterfly Lovers with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Bell's highlights for the 2024-25 season include the release of two new albums: Thomas De Hartmann Rediscovered, featuring the World Premiere recording of Ukrainian composer Thomas De Hartmann's Violin Concerto, and an album of Mendelssohn piano trios, which Bell recorded with longtime friends and collaborators Jeremy Denk and Steven Isserlis.

ABOUT STEVEN ISSERLIS:
Acclaimed worldwide for his profound musicianship and technical mastery, British cellist Steven Isserlis enjoys a distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster.

As concerto soloist he appears regularly with the world's leading orchestras and conductors, and plays with the world's foremost chamber orchestras. His interest in authentic performance has included collaborations with period-instrument ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Recordings include the Chopin Cello Sonata with Dénes Várjon using one of Chopin's own pianos, a performance with Andras Schiff at the Beethovenhaus in Bonn using Beethoven's own cello, and performances and recordings with Robert Levin of Beethoven's complete music for cello and piano using original or replica fortepianos. With harpsichordist Richard Egarr, Isserlis recorded the viola da gamba sonatas of J.S. Bach and sonatas by Handel and Scarlatti.  His critically-acclaimed recording of Bach's complete Solo Cello Suites was Gramophone's Instrumental Album of the Year. He has also premiered many new works by contemporary composers including John Tavener, Stephen Hough and Olli Mustonen.

ABOUT JEREMY DENK:
Jeremy Denk is one America's foremost pianists, hailed by The New York Times as an artist "you want to hear no matter what he performs." Denk is also a New York Times bestselling author, winner of both the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has performed multiple times at Carnegie Hall and in recent years has worked with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. Recent highlights include his extensive performances of Bach's Well-Tempered Klavier Book 1 and performances of John Adams' Must the Devil Have All The Great Tunes? with the Cleveland Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Seattle Symphony.

ABOUT IRENE DUVAL:
Praised for "her mastery of phrasing and of the dramatic dimension" (Diapason), "astonishing virtuosity" (Revelation Classiques) and her "infinite delicacy" (Le Populaire du centre), Irène Duval has won multiple international competitions and is an active performer of concerti, recitals and chamber music.

Duval has performed widely in Europe, including recitals at major venues and collaborations with orchestras such as the Dresdner Philharmonie, and Sinfonia Varsovia at the National Forum in Tokyo; past chamber music collaborators include Gidon Kremer and Christian Tetzlaff. This season, she performs at the Festival de Musica de Canarias with Joshua Bell, Blythe-Engstroem, and Steven Isserlis; at Wigmore Hall with Isserlis and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet; she returns to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Mendelssohn's Concerto, and in Sheffield for a celebration of Gabriel Fauré's music. Fauré is the central composer of her 2024 recital recording with Angus Webster released by Capriccio.

ABOUT BLYTHE TEH ENGSTROEM:
American violist Blythe Teh Engstroem studied violin with Nelli Shkolnikova and viola with Atar Arad at Indiana University Bloomington. She subsequently studied with Andrés Cárdenes in Pittsburgh. A passionate chamber musician, she has collaborated with Menahem Pressler, Yuja Wang, Lisa Batiashvili, Joshua Bell, Renaud Capuçon, Leonidas Kavakos, Pinchas Zukerman, Lawrence Power, Nobuko Imai, Gautier Capuçon and the Quatuor Ébène.

She was a member of the Quatuor Terpsycordes (Switzerland). Blythe has performed at numerous festivals in Europe and the Far East and is a regular soloist at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. She is a founding member of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra which, under Gábor Takács-Nagy, tours regularly with artists including Martha Argerich, Joshua Bell and Maxim Vengerov. She has been the Chamber Orchestra's concertmaster and currently leads the viola section. Blythe plays on a beautiful Maggini viola, on generous loan from a private benefactor.

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July 10, 2025

7:30: Yulianna Avdeeva, piano

Yulianna Avdeeva, First Prize winner of the 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition, is praised for her perfect execution and "sheer passion and musicianship, not to mention technical security…" (The Telegraph). In this program, she brings her insightful artistry to works of Shostakovich and Chopin.

PROGRAM:
SHOSTAKOVICH: Selections of Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87

Intermission
CHOPIN: 24 Preludes, Op. 28

ABOUT YULIANNA AVDEEVA:
A pianist of fiery temperament and virtuosity, Yulianna Avdeeva is the First Prize winner of the 2010 International Chopin Piano Competition, which launched her to international fame. After her sold-out recital debut at Carnegie Hall in early 2023, Avdeeva returns to Carnegie in October 2024 with a program of Chopin and Liszt that she will also bring to stages in Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, and Seattle. In Boston she performs works by Liszt and Beethoven.

In spring 2025, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Dmitri Shostakovich, Avdeeva performs the composer's 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, at Gewandhaus, in Leipzig, part of a Shostakovich festival with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in partnership with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She will also play the cycle in Berlin, Barcelona and Madrid, in Ostrava, Czech Republic and in Seon, Switzerland.


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July 11, 2025

7:30pm: African Queens with Karen Slack, soprano

Praised for her "sizeable voice that captured all of the vacillating emotions" (The New York Times), GRAMMY Award-winning soprano Karen Slack is "not only one of the nation's most celebrated sopranos, but a leading voice in changing and making spaces in classical music" (Trilloquy). Slack delivers a powerful performance celebrating the history and legacy of seven African queens, featuring newly commissioned art songs by Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, and others, interwoven with spoken text, thematic artwork and traditional repertoire.

ABOUT KAREN SLACK
Praised for her "sizeable voice that captured all of the vacillating emotions" (The New York Times), Karen Slack is "not only one of the nation's most celebrated sopranos, but a leading voice in changing and making spaces in classical music"(Trilloquy).
Slack is the winner of numerous competitions and awards, including the Montserrat Caballé International Competition, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and Marian Anderson ICON Award, among others. She is a recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence.

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July 12, 2025

7:30pm: Appalachian Spring

Internationally acclaimed for their "fearless, yet probingly beautiful" (The Strad) performances, the Grammy-winning Parker Quartet joins clarinetist Todd Palmer in a program that opens with Mozart's Clarinet Quintet and culminates with Copland's picturesque Appalachian Spring. This Copland masterpiece, which was performed on the opening night of the Shalin Liu Performance Center, returns to the stage in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of that momentous event.

PROGRAM
MOZART: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581
COPLAND: Appalachian Spring

PARKER QUARTET:
Internationally recognized for their "fearless, yet probingly beautiful" (The Strad) performances, the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet has distinguished itself as one of the preeminent ensembles of its generation. They are renowned for their fresh and unique approach to the great classics while being passionate ambassadors for music of our time and have appeared at the world's most illustrious venues since its founding in 2002.

TODD PALMER, clarinet:
Clarinetist TODD PALMER has appeared around the world as soloist, recitalist, chamber music collaborator, educator, arranger, and presenter. A three-time Grammy nominated artist, he was a winner of the Young Concert Artist International Auditions and grand prize winner in the Ima Hogg Young Artist Auditions.

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July 13, 2025

8:00pm: PINCHAS ZUKERMAN, violin and JAN LISIECKI, piano

Cocktail Party and Dinner, 5 PM Millbrook Meadow

Concert, 8 PM Concert Hall Shalin Liu Performance Center:
Join Rockport Music for our 2025 Rockport Music Gala: Midsummer Celebration on Sunday, July 13th—an unforgettable evening featuring world-renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman, the dynamic pianist Jan Lisiecki, and the Festival Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the brilliant Earl Lee.

This year's fundraiser promises to be a night to remember! The evening begins with cocktails and a gourmet dinner under a beautifully appointed tent in the serene setting of Millbrook Meadow, followed by an awe-inspiring performance at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.  Guests will be treated to two of Mozart's masterpieces, his Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major and the beloved Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, "Elvira Madigan."

PINCHAS ZUKERMAN:
With a celebrated career encompassing five decades, Pinchas Zukerman reigns as one of today's most sought after and versatile musicians — violin and viola soloist, conductor, and chamber musician.  He is renowned as a virtuoso, admired for the expressive lyricism of his playing, singular beauty of tone, and impeccable musicianship, which can be heard throughout his discography of over 100 albums for which he gained two GRAMMY® awards and 21 nominations.

JAN LISIECKI:
Jan Lisiecki's interpretations and technique speak to a maturity beyond his age. At 29, the Canadian performs over a hundred yearly concerts worldwide, and has worked closely with world-renowned conductors. At 18, Lisiecki became both the youngest ever recipient of Gramophone's Young Artist Award and received the Leonard Bernstein Award.

EARL LEE:
Winner of the 2022 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, Earl Lee is a renowned conductor who has captivated audiences worldwide. Earl is in his second season as Music Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and in his third season as Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which he has led in subscription concerts both at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood.

Individual Gala Tickets:
BENEFACTOR — $1,250 ($950 tax deductible)
Listing in Gala materials

PATRON — $900 ($600 tax deductible)

Please Note: When you purchase tickets, you are making a reservation for the Gala event.  Concert tickets will not be mailed.
All tickets will be presented upon arrival at the Gala Check-in table.

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July 25, 2025

7:30pm: Brahms and Oscar

A Concert of Resilience and Recovery
Hailed for his "golden timbre and virtuosic flair" (New York Times), trumpeter Jens Lindemann joins the dynamic pianist Stephen Prutsman, who is currently Visiting Artist at Stanford University, and celebrated violinist Chee-Yun for a program spanning from Brahms's Horn Trio to Oscar Peterson's iconic Canadiana Suite. Recognizing the recent tragedy brought by the California fires, this program includes a new commission for trumpet, violin and piano by California-based composer Peter Golub.

PROGRAM:
BRAHMS: Horn Trio, Op. 40
PETER GOLUB: Newly Commissioned Work (world premiere)
O. PETERSON: Canadiana Suite

Both composer Peter Golub and trumpeter Jens Lindemann lost their homes in the California fires and this program celebrates the spirit of resilience and recovery.

The new work by Peter Golub is commissioned by Stephen Prutsman, Osvaldo Golijov, Barry Shiffman, Michael Hostetler and Rockport Music.

ABOUT JENS LINDEMANN:
As the first classical brass soloist to ever receive the Order of Canada, Jens Lindemann is hailed as one of the most celebrated artists in his instrument's history and was recently named "International Brass Personality of the Year" (Brass Herald). He has played both jazz and classical in every major concert venue in the world: from the Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo to Carnegie Hall and even the Great Wall of China. His career has ranged from appearing internationally as an orchestral soloist, being featured at the 2010 Olympics for an audience of 2 billion people, recording with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to playing lead trumpet with the renowned Canadian Brass and a solo Command Performance for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He has also won major awards ranging from Grammy and Juno nominations to winning the prestigious Echo Klassik in Germany and British Bandsman 2011 Solo CD of the year as well as receiving several honorary doctorates.

ABOUT STEPHEN PRUTSMAN:
Stephen Prutsman has been described as one of the most innovative musicians of his time. Moving easily from classical to jazz to world music styles as a pianist and composer, Prutsman continues to explore and seek common ground and relationships in the music of all cultures and languages.

ABOUT CHEE-YUN:
Violinist Chee-Yun's flawless technique, dazzling tone and compelling artistry have enraptured audiences on five continents. Charming, charismatic and deeply passionate about her art, Chee-Yun continues to carve a unique place for herself in the ever-evolving world of classical music.

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Aug 3, 2025

5:00pm: Gryphon Trio and Barry Shiffman, viola

Recognized as one of the world's preeminent piano trios for over 25 years, Gryphon Trio has been praised for its "breathtaking ensemble and tonal control" (BBC Magazine). The Trio is joined by violist (and artistic director) Barry Shiffman for a program featuring Brahms and Beethoven's Piano Trio, Op. 97 "Archduke".

PROGRAM
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25

Intermission
BEETHOVEN: Piano Trio, Op. 97 "Archduke"

ABOUT GRYPHON TRIO
Gryphon Trio is firmly established as one of the world's preeminent piano trios. For more than 25 years, it has earned acclaim from international audiences with its highly refined, dynamic, and memorable performances. The Trio's repertoire ranges from traditional to contemporary, and from European classicism to modern-day multimedia. It is committed to redefining chamber music for the 21st century.

ABOUT BARRY SHIFFMAN
Violinist and violist Barry Shiffman has a rich and varied career as a performer, recording artist, teacher, and administrator. Shiffman made his debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15. In 1989, he co-founded the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ). During his 17 years with the Quartet, he appeared in over 2,000 concerts in venues around the globe (including Rockport Music), and recorded several critically acclaimed discs under an exclusive contract with EMI Classics.

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Aug 4, 2025

11:00am: Move, Groove & Imagine

Join us as Festival musicians invite young audiences and their families on a thrilling 45-minute musical adventure filled with singing melodies and dancing rhythms. From Haydn’s playful charm and Mendelssohn’s lyrical melodies to Dvo?ák’s folk-inspired tunes and Piazzolla’s fiery tango rhythms, each piece transports listeners into a world of movement and imagination. Beethoven’s bold and energetic music adds drama and excitement, demonstrating how powerful emotions can be conveyed through rhythm and melody. Children and parents alike will be swept away by the joy of music that ignites both the imagination and the spirit!

Free, reservations encouraged.

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Date: June 13 - July 13, July 25, Aug 3-4, 2025

Location: Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA 01966

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