The 54th Season Features Itzhak Perlman's First New York Chamber Series; Eleven Pianists Including Nelson Freire, Hélène Grimaud, Stephen Kovacevich, and Ingrid Fliter; a Violin Series Featuring Janine Jansen and Hilary Hahn; Patti Smith and Dianne Reeves; and
The Beaux Arts Trio's New York Farewell Concert
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents the 54th season of Metropolitan Museum Concerts, its acclaimed concert series, in 2007-08 – 83 events ranging from the acclaimed PianoForte recital series, a group of noted violinists, and a diverse roster of singers and choruses, to a broad array of chamber events performed by today's most renowned artists.
"Chamber music has been the backbone of the concert series since its founding in 1954, and we have the perfect hall for it in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium," said the Metropolitan's Director, Philippe de Montebello. "The coming season celebrates the chamber tradition in a new way by spotlighting some of the stars of the classical music world in unusual programs and collaborations. The renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman presents a unique series in which he will perform with the students of his Perlman Music Program. The pianists Hélène Grimaud and Simon Trpceski, two of the eleven artists on the PianoForte series, will perform chamber music with members of the New York Philharmonic. Our violin series presents Janine Jansen, who opened the concert season last year with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, performing a recital and chamber music program for the first time in New York; Hilary Hahn in collaboration with songwriter Josh Ritter; and Joan Kwuon with André Previn. Chanticleer premieres a new work with the Shanghai Quartet. And one of the most ineffable collaborations in the history of chamber music, the Beaux Arts Trio, will perform its final New York concert on our stage."
Among the highlights of the 2007-08 season: What Alex Ross described in The New Yorker as "the Met Museum's superbly curated PianoForte series" presents a roster of 11 pianists ranging from the teenage Lise de la Salle to Lars Vogt and Gabriela Montero, to Ivan Moravec and Nelson Freire returning after their acclaimed spring 2007 recitals. Led by Itzhak Perlman, the season's violinists are Joan Kwuon, in joint recital with André Previn at the piano; Janine Jansen, performing both solo and chamber repertoire; Hilary Hahn also performing both alone and with singer-songwriter Josh Ritter. Vocal and choral events range from a new work by Chen Yi performed by Chanticleer and the Shanghai Quartet; and the continuation of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra's series of Bach cantata concerts; to the Greek Byzantine music of the Angelopoulos Choir at The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, and Patti Smith in her fourth Metropolitan Museum appearance.
Returning chamber music artists continue to have pride of place: The Beaux Arts Trio, which has been in residence on the series since 1973, performs its final New York concert as an ensemble, but the Museum's two other resident ensembles, the Guarneri String Quartet and MMArtists in Concert, continue, as do Musicians from Marlboro, and Paula Robison concludes her multi-season Vivaldi series at The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing. The Accolades series continues the tradition of young artists at the Museum with performances by pianists Andrius Zlabys and Joel Fan, Trio Capuçon, and cellist Zuill Bailey with pianist Simone Dinnerstein.
Tango Buenos Aires; The Pipes, Drums, and Dancers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Band of the Coldstream Guards; four performances by the Salzburg Marionettes, including a new production of The Sound of Music; and seven evenings of Christmas Concerts, featuring the Aulos Ensemble and Chanticleer, among others, round out the concert offerings. Music lectures include a lecture/performance by Arnold Steinhardt on Bach's Chaconne in D Minor, a lecture on mid-20th century music and politics by Alex Ross; a series on "The Language of Music" by Stuart Isacoff; "Beethoven in His Own Words," a three-part series led by David Dubal; and "Unheard Melodies: The Deafness of Beethoven" by Edmund Morris.
The 2007-08 season of Concerts & Lectures is the 39th programmed by Concerts & Lectures General Manager Hilde Limondjian.
The programs of the Concerts & Lectures series are held primarily in the Museum's Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium (opened in 1954), which seats 708, as well as in Museum galleries such as the Medieval Sculpture Hall and The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing.
Tickets to the concert series are available by calling the Concerts & Lectures Department at (212) 570-3949, or may be purchased online at www.metmuseum.org/tickets, where updated schedules and programs are also available.
ITZHAK PERLMAN AND THE PERLMAN MUSIC PROGRAM
Itzhak Perlman's long association with the Metropolitan Museum Concerts series began more than four decades ago. In the 2007-08 season it continues with a three-concert series featuring Mr. Perlman performing with the rising stars of the Perlman Music Program, a program for exceptionally gifted young musicians administered and guided by Toby Perlman.
This is the first New York chamber music series conceived and programmed by Itzhak Perlman – and the concerts will reflect his personal approach to music-making, as he will be both coaching and performing with the musicians, who have come to his program from all over the world. This series is generously supported by Mrs. Florence Irving and Mrs. Vivian Milstein.
- Mozart's Quintet for Viola and Strings in G Minor, K. 516; Reich's Triple Quartet, 2001 (conducted by Patti Monson); and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. Saturday, October 27, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Mendelssohn's Quintet No. 2 for Strings in B-flat Major, Op. 87; Bartók's String Quartet No. 3; and Brahms' Quintet for Piano and Strings in F Minor, Op. 34, with guest artist Orion Weiss, piano. Saturday, March 22, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, BWV 1048; and Schumann's Quintet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 44, with guest artist David Kadouch, piano. Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
As part of an association between The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Philharmonic, two of the orchestra's guest soloists, pianists Simon Trpceski and Hélène Grimaud, will perform chamber music with Philharmonic musicians on the Metropolitan Museum's PianoForte series in conjunction with their appearances with the orchestra.
- Simon Trpceski, the Macedonian pianist who was last heard here with the New York Philharmonic in 2005, performs as his only New York recital of the season a program of solo piano works and chamber music with members of the Philharmonic (with whom he performs the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 the previous week): Chopin's Mazurkas, Op. 24, and Op. 17, No. 4; Two Polonaises, Op. 26; and Three Waltzes, Op. 70; as well as Brahms' Trio for Piano, Violin, and Horn in E-flat Major, Op. 40. Sunday, September 30, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Hélène Grimaud performs a program of chamber music with members of the New York Philharmonic (with which she performs the Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major the two days prior): Brahms' Sonata for Piano and Cello in E Minor, Op. 38; and Sonata No. 2 for Piano and Clarinet in E-flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2; Schumann's Sonata for Piano and Violin in A Minor, Op. 105; and Three Romances, Op. 94. Sunday, December 16, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
THE VIOLIN
Three exceptional events with three young star violinists: the New York recital debut of Janine Jansen; an evening of classical, folk, and rock featuring Hilary Hahn and singer/songwriter Josh Ritter; and Joan Kwuon in joint recital with André Previn. And Arnold Steinhardt steps out of the Guarneri String Quartet to address Bach's Chaconne.
- Joan Kwuon returns to the Metropolitan Museum joined by André Previn at the piano, for their only New York appearance of the season together, a program of sonatas for violin and piano: Brahms' Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100; Prokofieff's Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94; Beethoven's Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96. Saturday, February 9, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Janine Jansen, who opened the 2006-07 season of Metropolitan Museum Concerts with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, returns to the Museum for her New York recital debut. She will perform Bach's Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004, and is joined by violist Maxim Rysanov and cellist Torleif Thedéen for the remainder of the program: Bach's Two- and Three-Part Inventions, BWV 772-801, arranged for combinations of violin, viola, and cello; and Schnittke's String Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello. Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Hilary Hahn makes her only New York appearance of the season joined by singer/songwriter Josh Ritter at the piano for a program of original, traditional, and classical music. The program features Bach's Sonata No. 2 for Unaccompanied Violin; Ysaÿe's Sonata No. 3 for Unaccompanied Violin, Ernst's transcriptions for solo violin of Schubert's Erlkönig, and of The Last Rose of Summer; Paganini's Caprice No. 24; Nathan Milstein's Paganiniana; and songs by Josh Ritter. Saturday, April 12, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- "Masterwork at 7:00: Arnold Steinhardt, Violin, Celebrating Bach's Chaconne" – Arnold Steinhardt steps out of the Guarneri String Quartet for this lecture/performance on the Chaconne from Bach's Partita for Solo Violin No. 2 in D Minor – talking about the history of the work and the place it has in his recently-published memoir, Violin Dreams. A facsimile of Bach's 1720 autograph of the work will be displayed. Mr. Steinhardt will perform the entire partita. Friday, May 9, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
PIANOFORTE
"When it comes to picking great pianists, no presenter has a better record than the Metropolitan Museum's series of Concerts & Lectures," said Charles Michener in The New York Observer in September 2006. The acclaimed PianoForte series returns with an exciting group of keyboard artists exceptional in range and versatility, from rising stars to today's luminaries, playing their choice of two pianos – the "CD-60," which was celebrated during the 150th anniversary of Steinway & Sons New York, and a Hamburg Steinway.
- Simon Trpceski, the Macedonian pianist who was last heard here with the New York Philharmonic in 2005, performs as his only New York recital of the season a program of solo piano works and chamber music with members of the Philharmonic (with whom he performs the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 the previous week): Chopin's Mazurkas, Op. 24, and Op. 17, No. 4; Two Polonaises, Op. 26; and Three Waltzes, Op. 70; as well as Brahms' Trio for Piano, Violin, and Horn in E-flat Major, Op. 40. Sunday, September 30, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Ivan Moravec returns to the Metropolitan Museum for the second consecutive year for his only New York recital of the season: Haydn's Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI, 37; Debussy's Estampes; Chopin's Nocturnes in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1; in G Minor, Op. 15, No. 3; in G-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 1; in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2; and the Ballade in F minor, Op. 52. Saturday, October 13, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Lars Vogt performs his only New York recital of the season, a program of Mozart's Sonata in F Major, K. 332; Schubert's Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946; and Brahms' Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5. Tuesday, October 16, at 8:00 p.m.
- Lise de la Salle, the 19-year-old French prodigy, performs her only New York recital of the season with a program of Mozart's Sonata in D Major, K. 284; Rondo in A Minor, K. 511; and Twelve Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman"; and Prokofieff's Six Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, and Toccata for Piano in C Major, Op. 11. Saturday, November 10, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Yevgeny Sudbin, 27-year-old Russian-born virtuoso, performs his only New York recital of the season, a program of Haydn's Sonata No. 30 in B Minor, Hob. XVI, 32; and Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI, 50; Medtner's Sonata "Reminiscenza" in A Minor; Op. 38, No. 1; two Mazurkas by Chopin; and works by Scriabin: Four Mazurkas from Op. 3; Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp Minor, Op. 19, "Sonata Fantasy"; and Sonata No. 9, Op. 68, "Messe Noire." Tuesday, November 13, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Hélène Grimaud performs a program of chamber music with members of the New York Philharmonic (with which she performs the Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major the two days prior): Brahms' Sonata for Piano and Cello in E Minor, Op. 38; and Sonata No. 2 for Piano and Clarinet in E-flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2; Schumann's Sonata for Piano and Violin in A Minor, Op. 105; and Three Romances, Op. 94. Sunday, December 16, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- Stephen Kovacevich returns to the Metropolitan Museum for his only New York recital of the season, a program of Bach's Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV 787; Schumann's Kinderszenen, Op. 15; Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, Op. 120. Thursday, February 21, at 8:00 p.m.
- Gabriela Montero performs a recital featuring Schumann's Carnaval, Op. 9; and Ginastera's Sonata No. 1, Op. 22, as well as the free improvisations for which she is known. Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Alexei Volodin of Russia makes his U.S. recital debut, performing Schubert's Impromptu, Op. 142, No. 1; Beethoven's Sonata in C Minor, Op. 111; Rachmaninoff's Moments musicaux, Op. 16; and Prokofieff's Sonata No. 7. Friday, March 28, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Ingrid Fliter, who made her New York recital debut in March 2007, returns with her only New York recital of the season, performing Schubert's Impromptus, Op. 90, Nos. 1 and 2; Beethoven's Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110; and Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, and Sonata in B Minor, Op. 58. Thursday, April 17, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Nelson Freire returns to the Metropolitan Museum after his acclaimed April 2007 recital, for his only New York recital of the season, a program of Mendelssohn's Variations Sérieuses in D Minor, Op. 54; Schumann's Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, Op .11; Debussy's Images, Book II; and Chopin's Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52; Nocturne No. 1 in F Major, Op. 15; two Mazurkas; and Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54. Tuesday, April 29, at 8:00 p.m.
The Accolades young artist series also presents recitals by the pianists Joel Fan and Andrius Zlabys (see below).
VOICES, AND CHOIRS IN THE GALLERIES
From Bach cantatas by Orpheus to the jazz of Dianne Reeves, from Chanticleer to Patti Smith, from the Angelopoulos Choir to the cabaret of Steve Ross, the wide-ranging vocal events of the season in fact showcase many returning artists. The season's three choral events all take place in the Museum's galleries.
- Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Dianne Reeves makes her Metropolitan Museum debut joined by two of her frequent collaborators, guitarists Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo, for a program titled "Strings Attached" on Thursday, October 25, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.
- Pop legend Patti Smith makes her fourth Metropolitan Museum appearance, joined by friends for a program titled "Poems and Songs for the Young at Heart," featuring works of Hans Christian Andersen, William Blake, Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, Rudyard Kipling, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Friday, January 18, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- The Blue Hill Troupe – a chorus of 70 – returns to the Museum for its annual presentation of Gilbert & Sullivan gems, including favorites from The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, on Sunday, February 10, 2008, at 5:00 p.m.
- Richie Havens, following a highly successful concert at the Metropolitan Museum last February, returns with Walter Parks, guitar and vocals, and Stephanie Winters, cello, for another evening of performance featuring his unique and ageless singing style. The legendary soul singer who emerged from the Greenwich Village folk scene in the 1960s has inspired and electrified audiences for the last three decades. Friday, May 2, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- Cabaret star Steve Ross returns to the Museum with two programs: the first featuring "The Songs of Stephen Sondheim," including songs from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Merrily We Roll Along, and Follies on Friday, January 11, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. ; and the second titled "Once Upon a Time – Story Songs" featuring work songs, patter songs, and ballads, including those by Harry Chapin, Johnny Cash, Cole Porter, and Noel Coward, on Friday, May 23, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- The Angelopoulos Choir, founded in 1977 by Lycourgos Angelopoulos, is world-renowned for performing music from the Greek Byzantine tradition. The ensemble will perform at The Temple of Dendur in the Sackler Wing on Sunday, January 13, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- Chanticleer returns to the Metropolitan Museum, its New York home, for the New York premiere of a work by Chen Yi, From the Path of Beauty, which it will perform with the Shanghai Quartet. The composer says of the piece, "the music will bring us through the history of beauty in Chinese arts…. It will be deep in expression and rich in color, lyrical yet dramatic." The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra continues in its third season of Bach cantata concerts in the Medieval Sculpture Hall with a program of Cantatas Nos. 67, "Halt im Gedachtnis Jesum Christ," BWV 67; and No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140, on Thursday, April 24, 2008, at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
CHAMBER SERIES
In addition to the Beaux Arts Trio; the Itzhak Perlman series; the chamber programs headlined by pianists and violinists and with members of the New York Philharmonic; and the Accolades young artists series, the season features series regulars the Guarneri String Quartet, the MMArtists in Concert, and Paula Robison, and a program from the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival.
- Guarneri String Quartet – Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley, violin; Michael Tree, viola; and Peter Wiley, cello – performs four concerts of quartets by Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms, Foss, Haydn, Kodály, Mendelssohn, and Smetana on four Saturdays: November 17, 2007; December 15 2007; February 23, 2008; and March 15, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
The Guarneri String Quartet made its first appearance in the Metropolitan Museum Concerts series in 1965 and has been performing there annually ever since. The spring series of the Guarneri String Quartet is supported by the Grace Jarcho Ross and Daniel G. Ross Concert Fund.
- MMArtists in Concert, led by cellist Edward Arron, the artistic coordinator, was created in Metropolitan Museum Concerts' 50th anniversary season, and it is the first ensemble to bear the Museum's name. The ensemble has received critical acclaim not only "bring[ing] solo quality to ensemble playing," but for the inviting nature of the events: "Connections play an important part in this fine ensemble's programs," noted Steve Smith in The New York Times, and "so do communication and enthusiastic advocacy." The three Friday evening programs will be introduced onstage by WQXR Morning Host Jeff Spurgeon and will be broadcast live on 96.3 FM WQXR as well as streamed online on www.WQXR.com.
String quintets of Beethoven – original and in arrangement – is the theme for the ensemble's fifth season of concerts; they will be complemented on the three programs by works including Bolcom's Graceful Ghost Rag for Solo Piano, Carter's Con Leggerezza Pensosa, Omaggio a Italo Calvino for Clarinet, Violin, and Cello, selections from Copland's American Songs, Kirchner's Triptych for Violin and Cello), and Wuorinen's Quintet for Piano and Strings, as well as works by Dvořák and Mozart, and Beethoven folk songs.
Edward Arron is joined by Andrew Armstrong and Jeremy Denk, piano; Jennifer Frautschi, Laura Frautschi, Colin Jacobsen, Yosuke Kawasaki, and Jesse Mills, violin; Nicholas Cords, Colin Jacobsen, and Max Mandel, viola; Raman Ramakrishnan, cello; Carol McGonnell, clarinet; and Randall Scarlata, baritone. Fridays, January 25, 2008; February 22, 2008; and May 16, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Musicians From Marlboro - In a tradition that began in 1970, both prominent past and recent young alumni of this venerable school and festival will offer a series of three concerts of repertoire by Beethoven, Britten, Carter, Dvořák, Haydn, Kodály, Mozart, and Schumann performed by Ieva Jokubaviciute, piano; David Bowlin, Colin Jacobsen, Soovin Kim, Yura Lee, Susie Park, and Harumi Rhodes, violin; Rebecca Albers, Maurycy Banaszek, Kim Kashkashian, Rachel Ku, and Samuel Rhodes, viola; Earl Lee, Priscilla Lee, and Michael Nicolas, cello; Marina Piccinini, flute; and Jose Vicente Castelló Vicedo, horn. Fridays, November 9, 2007; March 21, 2008; and April 18, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
- Paula Robison, flute, concludes her celebration of The Great Vivaldi at The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, with a program with chamber orchestra: Concerto for Orchestra in C Major; Italian Folk Songs and Love Songs; and The Four Seasons transcribed for flute and orchestra. Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- A program from the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival, Elena Bashkirova, piano and artistic director, in its only New York appearance, also features Guy Braunstein, violin; Amichai Grosz, viola; Kyril Zlotnikov, cello; and Karlheinz Steffans, clarinet, performing Schumann's Six Pieces in Canon Form, Op. 56; Beethoven's Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Viola, Op. 38; Kurtág's Hommage á Robert Schumann for Piano, Clarinet, and Viola. Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.
BEAUX ARTS TRIO FAREWELL
The Beaux Arts Trio, the world's pre-eminent chamber ensemble – Menahem Pressler, piano; Daniel Hope, violin; Antonio Meneses, cello – has been performing every year at the Metropolitan Museum, its New York home, since 1973. The Met will be the host for the trio's New York farewell concert on Sunday, April 6, at 8:00 p.m. , at which they will perform two Schubert trios: No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 99, D. 898, and No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 100, D. 929; and a work for piano trio by Gyorgy Kurtág.
ACCOLADES YOUNG ARTISTS SERIES
The Metropolitan Museum has been championing young artists for more than half a century – among the artists who have made debuts in its series are Richard Goode, Peter Serkin, Arnold Steinhardt, and Murray Perahia. This series is made possible by the Xerox Foundation.
- Zuill Bailey, cello, and Simone Dinnerstein, piano, perform all five Beethoven sonatas for cello and piano. Ms. Dinnerstein performed a solo recital at the Museum in November 2006. Friday, October 12, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.
- Trio Capuçon, consisting of Renaud Capuçon, violin; Gautier Capuçon, cello; and Nicholas Angelich, piano, performs piano trios by Brahms (No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87), Shostakovich (No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67), and Mendelssohn (No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66) in their only New York appearance of the season on Friday, February 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- Joel Fan, piano, makes his New York recital debut with a program of Saygun's Pentatonic Sketch on Aksak Rhythm; Prokofieff's Sonata No. 3, Op. 28; Beethoven's Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110; Bolcom's Bagatelle, "La Belle Rouquine"; Qigang Chen's Instants d'un Opéra Pékin; Liszt's Paraphrase from Rigoletto; Villa-Lobos' Choros No. 5, "Alma brasileira"; Kirchner's Sonata No. 3, "The Forbidden," which was written for Mr. Fan; and Chopin's Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, "Funeral March." Friday, March 14, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
- Andrius Zlabys, piano, performs his only New York recital of the season with a program of Bach's Art of Fugue, Contrapuncti Nos. 1, 3, and 4; Brahms' Intermezzos Op. 117, No. 1 in E-flat Major, No. 2 in B-flat Minor, No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 117; and Beethoven's Sonata Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest." Friday, April 4, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.
TANGO, PIPES & DRUMS, AND SALZBURG MARIONETTES
From the traditions of Argentina, the British Isles, and the birthplace of Mozart:
- Tango Buenos Aires, Emilio Kauderer, artistic director, has become known throughout the world as an authentic and uncompromising representative of the tango. The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, Saturday, October 6, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.
- Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Coldstream Guards, a company of 85, performs "A Royal Celebration," music of England, Scotland, and Wales. The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
- Salzburg Marionettes, a Metropolitan Museum family favorite, returns with a brand-new production of The Sound of Music, which has its world premiere a month before coming to New York. This unique Salzburg-based troupe brings two productions: The Sound of Music, in a full-length version and a one-hour presentation for families; and a full-length performance of The Magic Flute. These performances are made possible by Leon B. Polsky and Cynthia Hazen Polsky. Friday, December 7, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, December 8, 2007, at 3:00 & 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, December 9, 2007, at 3:00 p.m.
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
"Hearing a concert in the historic intimacy of the Medieval Sculpture Hall is an essential New York experience," says The New Yorker magazine. A unique selection of ensembles perform holiday music in front of the Museum's Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque crèche.
- Chanticleer's annual Christmas program celebrates the mystery and wonder of the holiday with a program of traditional carols, medieval and Renaissance sacred works, and spirituals. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, December 2, 4, 5, 2007, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
- "Music for the Spirit," a program of music arranged for four cellos and voice, features mezzo-soprano Mary Nessinger and cellists Judith Serkin, Priscilla Lee, Theodore Mook, and Clancy Newman performing works by Bach, Boismortier, Cervetto, Falla, Klengel, and Pärt, as well as traditional Christmas carols. Thursday, December 13, 2007, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
- Aulos Ensemble and soprano Julianne Baird perform a program of traditional songs, works by Corrette, Bruhns, Bach, and Rameau. Tuesday, December 18, 2007, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
- Burning River Brass performs music of Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Mel Tormé, a suite of Renaissance music, and traditional and contemporary Christmas carols. Wednesday, December 19, 2007, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
- Choristers of the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Mollie Nichols, conductor, and harpist Emily Mitchell perform a program highlighted by Britten's A Ceremony of Carols. Thursday, December 20, 2007, at 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.
MUSIC LECTURES
Beethoven, Bach, Verdi, Broadway, the musical and political turmoil of the middle-20th century, and the language of music itself are the topics of the season's music lectures offered by celebrated scholars, broadcasters, and journalists.
- "Beethoven in His Own Words" – The pianist Louis Kentner thought Beethoven "the greatest artist of human history," and Richard Wagner called him "a titan wrestling with the gods." In three programs, pianist, teacher, writer, and broadcaster David Dubal will explore the turbulent existence of the man who believed that "music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." Each lecture will include performances by young stars of The Juilliard School. Wednesdays, October 3, 10, and 17, 2007, at 2:30 p.m.
- "The Basics of Music, Baroque and Otherwise" – This three-lecture series is designed for people who like music but hesitate to ask about things they fear they should already know. With live and recorded examples, lecturer and radio commentator Thomas Forrest Kelly will explore how music is made, how we might listen to it, and what makes great composers great. Tuesdays, October 23, October 30, and November 13, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.
- "Back to Bach" – In an effort to find his own musical language, J.S. Bach transcended traditional techniques and developed a musical grammar that would be employed by composers for the next three centuries. Cellist Kate Dillingham will discuss and perform two of the sonatas for cello and keyboard that she edited with cellist Bernard Greenhouse: BWV 1028 and 1029. She will be accompanied by Edward Brewer on harpsichord. Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at 2:30 p.m.
- "Giuseppe Verdi" – During the 2007-08 season, the Metropolitan Opera will offer six of Verdi's masterpieces. Music lecturer and writer Nimet Habachy will look at the periods in Verdi's life in which he composed three of these works, the social and cultural climate, and the creators of the stories from which each libretto was drawn. For each lecture she will be joined by a major interpreter of a lead role in each of the operas, including Martina Arroyo, Renata Scotto, and Lauren Flanigan. Tuesdays, October 30, November 13, and November 20, 2007, at 2:30 p.m.
- "The Sound of Broadway: Oklahoma!" – The state of Oklahoma is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2007, and Oklahoma! the musical is celebrating its 64th. Broadcaster and lecturer June LeBell presents a tribute to the musical with guests from the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, alumni from Oklahoma! the musical, and famous singers from Oklahoma the state. Wednesdays, November 7 and 14, 2007, at 2:30 p.m.
- "The Art of Fear" – In the 1930s and 1940s, most of Europe fell under the control of totalitarian regimes. Music, too, was subject to their rule. Ever since, scholars, critics, and audiences have debated to what degree composers such as Richard Strauss in Germany and Dmitri Shostakovich in Russia collaborated with the dictators who governed them. Alex Ross, music critic of The New Yorker and author of the soon-to-be-released book The Rest is Noise, will describe mid-century musical politics in all its agonized complexity, showing how the greatest works of the period both embodied and escaped the nightmare of 20th-century history. Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at 8:00 p.m.
- "The Language of Music" – Pianist, composer, and writer Stuart Isacoff offers three lectures on understanding how music works; the stylistic changes from era to era, how composers manage to grip our emotions, and the wondrous power and imagination behind the world's musical masterpieces. Thursdays, November 29, December 6, and 13, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.
- "Unheard Melodies: The Deafness of Beethoven" – In his late 20s, Beethoven faced progressive, incurable hearing loss, and resolved to make art from his disability. All the masterpieces of his "heroic" middle period and his "metaphysical" later years either triumph over or transcend his aural trauma, though many passages in these works seem pathological. Author and music historian Edmund Morris, author of the recent biography Beethoven: The Universal Composer, gives a talk, with demonstrations at the keyboard and in recordings, on how the composer's deafness affected his music. Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 6:00 p.m.
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June 25, 2007
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