Jun
24
Fri
Laredo, Robinson, Ngwenyama, and Hochman perform piano quartets, including the VT premiere of ‘Elegy’ for piano quartet @ Brattleboro Music Center
Jun 24 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Benjamin Hochman will perform beloved piano quartets.  On the program are the Mozart E-flat piano quartet, the Vermont Premiere of Elegy by Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and the Brahms G minor piano quartet.

The BMC Chamber Series  concludes with an evening of beloved piano quartets featuring Jaime Laredo (violin) Nokuthula Ngwenyama (viola), Sharon Robinson (cello) and Benjamin Hochman (piano).

Their performance will include the Vermont premiere of award-winning composer/violist Ngwenyama’s new piano quartet Elegy. This BMC co-commission was composed in response to the tragic events of spring 2020, including the killing of George Floyd.

Known for writing “music of bold, mesmerizing character” (Gramophone), Ngwenyama joins what the Washington Post calls “superstars of the chamber music world,” Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson, with Benjamin Hochman, for the finale concert of this season’s BMC Chamber Music Series.

In addition to Elegy, the program will include Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major and the Brahms Piano Quartet in g minor.

BMC Artistic Advisor Jaime Laredo is regarded as one of the top violinists of the late 20th century, especially notable as part of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. He has also been active as a conductor and educator. Performing for over six decades before audiences across the globe, he has excelled in the multiple roles of soloist, conductor, recitalist, pedagogue, and chamber musician.

“Mother of Peace” and “Lion” in Zulu, Nokuthula Endo Ngwenyama’s performances as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician garner great attention. Gramaphone proclaims her as “providing solidly shaped music of bold mesmerizing character.” As a composer, Uptown Magazine featured her “A Poet of Sound.” As a performer, she gained international prominence by winning the Primrose International Viola Competition at 16. The following year she won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, which led to debuts at the Kennedy Center and the 92nd Street ‘Y.’ A recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, she has performed with orchestras and as a recitalist the world over.

Also serving as BMC Artistic Advisor, Sharon Robinson is winner of the Avery Fisher Recital Award, the Piatigorsky Memorial Award, the Pro Musicis Award, and a Grammy Nominee, and recognized worldwide as a consummate artist and one of the most outstanding musicians of our time. Whether as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, or member of the world-famous Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, critics, audiences, and fellow musicians respond to what the Indianapolis Star has called “a cellist who has simply been given the soul of Caruso.”

Benjamin Hochman, pianist, is a musician of exceptional versatility who regularly appears in multiple guises as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. In recent years he has ventured into the orchestral repertoire as a conductor. His wide range of partners and projects is matched by his curiosity, focus, and ability to communicate deeply with audiences. Since his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman, Hochman has enjoyed an international performing career, appearing as a soloist with the New York, Los Angeles, and Prague Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras.

Jun
25
Sat
Beloved Piano Quartets – in memory of Joseph Kalichstein @ Olin Hall, Bard College
Jun 25 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Featuring Jamie Laredo (violin), Sharon Robinson (cello), Benjamin Hochman (piano), and Nokuthula Ngwenyama (viola)
This concert is in memory of Joseph Kalichstein of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. 
Mozart
Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, K.493

Nokuthula Ngwenyama
Elegy

Brahms
Piano Quartet No. 1, Op.25

About

Violinist Jaime Laredo is regarded as one of the top violinists of the late 20th century, especially notable as part of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. He has also been active as a conductor and educator. Performing for over six decades before audiences across the globe, Jaime Laredo has excelled in the multiple roles of soloist, conductor, recitalist, pedagogue, and chamber musician. Since his stunning orchestral debut at the age of eleven with the San Francisco Symphony, he has won the admiration and respect of audiences, critics, and fellow musicians with his passionate and polished performances. That debut inspired one critic to write: ‘In the 1920’s it was Yehudi Menuhin; in the 1930’s it was Isaac Stern, and last night it was Jaime Laredo.’ His education and development were greatly influenced by his teachers Josef Gingold and Ivan Galamian, as well as by private coaching with eminent masters Pablo Casals and George Szell. At the age of seventeen, Jaime Laredo won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth of Belgium Competition, launching his rise to international prominence. With 2009 marking the 50th anniversary of his prize, he was honored to sit on the Jury for the final round of the Competition.

Cellist Sharon Robinson, winner of the Avery Fisher Recital Award, the Piatigorsky Memorial Award, the Pro Musicis Award, and a Grammy Nominee, is recognized worldwide as a consummate artist and one of the most outstanding musicians of our time. Whether as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, or member of the world-famous Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, critics, audiences, and fellow musicians respond to what the Indianapolis Star has called “A cellist who has simply been given the soul of Caruso.” Her guest appearances with orchestras include the Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, National, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Francisco symphonies, and in Europe, the London Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Zürich’s Tonhalle Orchestra, and the English, Scottish, and Franz Lizst chamber orchestras.

As solo artists, as the Laredo-Robinson Duo, and as members of the Kalichstein- Laredo-Robinson Trio with pianist Joseph Kalichstein for more than 40 years, Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson are among the busiest and most respected musicians in the world. In 2012, the husband-wife team joined the esteemed instrumental and chamber music faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. They have been Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle’s Artistic Directors for twenty years.

Benjamin Hochman, pianist, is a musician of exceptional versatility who regularly appears in multiple guises as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. In recent years he has ventured into the orchestral repertoire as a conductor. His wide range of partners and projects is matched by his curiosity, focus, and ability to communicate deeply with audiences. Since his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Pinchas Zukerman, Hochman has enjoyed an international performing career, appearing as a soloist with the New York, Los Angeles, and Prague Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras under conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Trevor Pinnock, John Storgårds, and Joshua Weilerstein. A winner of Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Career Grant, he performs at venues including Konzerthaus Wien, Berlin Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Louvre in Paris, Liszt Academy in Budapest, Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, New York’s 92nd Street Y, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. Festival highlights include IMS Prussia Cove, Israel Festival, Klavierfestival Ruhr, Lucerne, Marlboro, Santa Fe, Spoleto, and Verbier. Hochman’s recent and upcoming projects reflect the breadth of his musical activities, his imaginative approach to programming, and his ongoing relationships with several orchestras and festivals. He performed four Beethoven Piano Sonatas for Daniel Barenboim in December 2020 at the Pierre Boulez Saal as part of a filmed workshop and will return to the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival in July 2022.

“Mother of Peace” and “Lion” in Zulu, Nokuthula Endo Ngwenyama’s performances as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician garner great attention. Gramaphone proclaims her as “providing solidly shaped music of bold mesmerizing character.” As a composer, Uptown Magazine featured her “A Poet of Sound.” As a performer, Ms. Ngwenyama gained international prominence by winning the Primrose International Viola Competition at 16. The following year she won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, which led to debuts at the Kennedy Center and the 92nd Street ‘Y.’ A recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, she has performed with orchestras and as a recitalist the world over. Presently composing and performing, this 2021-22 season Ms. Ngwenyama collaborated with the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio on the premiere of Elegy for piano quartet, lead commissioned by the Linton Chamber Series and supported by the Arizona Friends of Music, Chamber Music Monterrey Bay, Chamber Music Northwest, Chamber Music Tulsa, Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle, the Kennedy Center, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and the Phoenix Chamber Music Society.

Jun
27
Mon
Nokuthula Ngwenyama rejoins the Phoenix Boys Choir @ Woodmont Christian Church
Jun 27 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Nokuthula Ngwenyama is thrilled to rejoin artistic director Herbert Washington, pianist Mary Price and the Phoenix Boys Choir for this Nashville performance!

Jun
28
Tue
Nokuthula Ngwenyama joins the Phoenix Boys Choir for their final 2022 Southern Tour appearance @ First Christian Church
Jun 28 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Nokuthula Ngwenyama is thrilled to rejoin artistic director Herbert Washington, pianist Mary Price and the Phoenix Boys Choir for their final Southern Tour performance!

Jul
22
Fri
Maestro Xian Zhang conducts ‘Primal Message’ with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra @ Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
Jul 22 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Conductor: Xian Zhang
Soloist: Steven Banks, saxophone

PROGRAM:
NGWENYAMA Primal Message
GLAZUNOV Saxophone Concerto
IBERT Concertino da Camera
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4

Jul
23
Sat
Maestro Xian Zhang conducts ‘Primal Message’ with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra @ Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
Jul 23 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Conductor: Xian Zhang
Soloist: Steven Banks, saxophone

PROGRAM:
NGWENYAMA Primal Message
GLAZUNOV Saxophone Concerto
IBERT Concertino da Camera
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4

Aug
21
Sun
MAINSTAGE CONCERT I: Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Anna Polonsky @ Elley-Long Music Center at St. Michael’s College
Aug 21 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Few ensembles in history have had the sustained artistry and success that the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio has had for 45 years. They are particularly beloved in Vermont, in part thanks to Jaime Laredo’s 20 years as music director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. The trio is joined on this program by star violist and composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and they will give one of the first performances in the world of Elegy, an LCCMF co-commission with several other presenters around the U.S.

This concert will honor pianist Joseph Kalichstein who passed away in March of 2022. Anna Polonsky will perform in his place. Join us at 2:15pm for a pre-concert conversation with Resident Composer, David Serkin Ludwig and Soovin Kim.

Mozart Piano Quartet no. 2 in E-flat major, K. 493
Nokuthula Ngwenyama Elegy for piano quartet (2022 LCCMF co-commission)
Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor, op. 25, no.1

Jaime Laredo, violin
Nokuthula Ngwenyama, viola
Sharon Robinson, cello
Anna Polonsky, piano

 

Sep
26
Mon
Balinese Gamelan with Composer and Musician Dewa Berata @ Sangar Cudamani
Sep 26 – Sep 27 all-day
Oct
15
Sat
Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Anna Polansky perform a program dedicated to the memory of pianist Joseph Kalichstein @ Tulsa Performing Arts Center Westby Pavilion
Oct 15 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Anna Polansky perform a program

dedicated to the memory of pianist Joseph Kalichstein, founding member of the

Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio

Saturday, October 15, 2022

7:30 p.m. Westby Pavilion

Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia

Florence Price Sonata for Piano in E Minor, II. Andante

Brahms Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, Op.25

Oct
16
Sun
Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Nokuthula Ngwenyama and Anna Polansky perform piano quartets @ Tulsa Performing Arts Center Westby Pavilion
Oct 16 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Pre-concert talk with Ngwenyama: 2:15 pm

Mozart Piano Quartet in G Minor, K. 478

Nokuthula Ngwenyama Elegy – OK premiere co-commissioned by Chamber Music Tulsa

Dvořák Quartet in E-flat, Op. 87