Fortas Chamber Music Concerts: 2008-2009 Season

Past Events

• Concertante

  Wed., Oct. 8, 2008, 7:30 PM
  Comprised of six core virtuoso string players who are all alumni of The Juilliard School, Concertante performs a program dedicated to string sextets by Martinu, Dvorák, and Tchaikovsky.

• Claremont Trio

  Thu., Oct. 30, 2008, 7:30 PM
  Comprised of twin string musicians Emily and Julia Bruskin and pianist Donna Kwong--their colleague from The Juilliard School--the trio plays a program featuring a world premiere by Nico Muhly and works by Smetana and Schubert.

• Emerson String Quartet

  Wed., Nov. 5, 2008, 7:30 PM
  Two seasons ago, the Emersons performed Shostakovich's first eight string quartets, enrapturing Fortas audiences. They return to perform Shostakovich's remaining string quartets, Nos. 9-12 (Nov. 5) and Nos. 13-15 (Nov. 6).

• Emerson String Quartet

  Thu., Nov. 6, 2008, 7:30 PM
  Two seasons ago, the Emersons performed Shostakovich's first eight string quartets, enrapturing Fortas audiences. They return to perform Shostakovich's remaining string quartets, Nos. 9-12 (Nov. 5) and Nos. 13-15 (Nov. 6).

• Perlman-Schmidt-Bailey Trio

  Wed., Nov. 12, 2008, 7:30 PM
  For their second Fortas appearance, this acclaimed trio--pianist Navah Perlman, cellist Zuill Bailey, and violinist Giora Schmidt--lends its energetic performance style to works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and others.

• Juilliard String Quartet

  Fri., Dec. 5, 2008, 7:30 PM
  The ever-evolving institution that is the Juilliard String Quartet has become a living American legend. It makes its Fortas debut with Mendelssohn's Quartet in E-flat major, Dutilleux's Ainsi la Nuit, and Ravel's Quartet in F major.

• Augustin Hadelich, violin

  Sun., Jan. 25, 2009, 7:30 PM
  Juilliard graduate Augustin Hadelich has established himself as an eloquent, versatile, and unique voice among the new generation of violinists. He's joined by pianist Rohan De Silva for works by Beethoven, Prokofiev, Sarasate, and Bartok.

• Guarneri String Quartet: Farewell Tour - Final Concert in Washington

  Tue., Feb. 10, 2009, 7:30 PM
  After 45 years as one of the world's most revered quartets, the Guarneri embark upon their final tour. For their last DC concert, they play Beethoven's String Quartet in A minor and, with original cellist David Soyer, Schubert's Cello Quintet in C major.

• The Hilliard Ensemble

  Thu., Feb. 12, 2009, 7:30 PM
  One of the world's foremost vocal groups, this British a cappella quartet makes its Kennedy Center debut, bringing its ensemble virtuosity to bear on great works of the Medieval, Renaissance, and contemporary periods.

• Harolyn Blackwell, soprano, with Post-Classical Ensemble

  Sun., Mar. 1, 2009, 7:30 PM
  One of the brightest stars on stage today, soprano and D.C. native Harolyn Blackwell is joined by Post-Classical Ensemble, self-dubbed as "more than an orchestra," for a unique program of chamber music with roots from Europe's Iberian Peninsula.

• Composer Spotlight: Lera Auerbach

  Fri., May 1, 2009, 7:30 PM
  As part of CrossCurrents, the Kennedy Center's Contemporary Music Week, pianist/composer Lera Auerbach performs a program of her works with cellist Alisa Weilerstein and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke.

• Composer Spotlight: Bruce Adolphe

  Sat., May 2, 2009, 7:30 PM
  As part of CrossCurrents: Contemporary Music Week, this concert features a selection of composer Bruce Adolphe's chamber works played by some of today's exciting musicians and the Center debut of the Apollo Trio.

• Composer Spotlight: Joan Tower

  Mon., May 4, 2009, 7:30 PM
  Acclaimed composer Joan Tower's music is often personally inspired. Tower on piano is joined first by her frequent collaborators the Muir Quartet and then the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio as part of CrossCurrents: Contemporary Music Week.

• Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio and Miami String Quartet

  Tue., May 5, 2009, 7:30 PM
  These two world-renowned ensembles return for a program with works by Boccherini and Dvorák, as well as the D.C. premiere of a new piano septet written for them by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich as part of CrossCurrents: Contemporary Music Week.

• The Nash Ensemble of London

  Wed., May 6, 2009, 7:30 PM
  The Nash Ensemble of London boasts an eclectic repertoire, from the classics to the contemporary. They perform a program that was chosen by British composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, the curator of the Kennedy Center's Contemporary Music Week.

• National Symphony Orchestra chamber ensemble: Oliver Knussen, conductor; Brad Lubman, conductor

  Sun., May 10, 2009, 7:30 PM
  Conductors Oliver Knussen and Brad Lubman lead a chamber ensemble of NSO musicians as part of CrossCurrents: Contemporary Music Week. The program includes Knussen's Requiem - Songs for Sue featuring soprano Elizabeth Keusch.