Julia Fischer
The 2011-’12 season of Princeton University Concerts — and the first season programmed by new concert-manager Marna Seltzer — will feature three of the finest string quartets in the world today, three of the most sought-after young artists of their generation, and a collaboration bringing together dance and music for the first time in in the concert series’ 118-year history.
This year the series expands from eight to 10 concerts, all of which will be presented in Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on the Princeton campus. The series also introduces a new partnership with McCarter Theater and two new bonus concerts, one featuring the eclectic ensemble Time for Three and an interdisciplinary collaboration between choreographer Mark Morris and countertenor David Daniels.
Beethoven’s work is featured on almost every program in the 2011-’12 season. Audiences will be invited to join renowned Beethoven scholar Scott Burnham for 30 minutes prior to each concert, as he surveys Beethoven’s creative genius.
Concert Classics
Thursday, October 6, 2011, the Emerson String Quartet, in a program that is part of a community-wide collaboration titled “Memory and the Work of Art.”
Program: Beethoven Quartet for Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 127 Barber Adagio; Shostakovich Quartet for Strings No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 92
Thursday, November 10, 2011. Alisa Weilerstein, cello*, and Inon Barnatan, piano*
Program: Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5, No. 2; Barber Cello Sonata in C minor, Op. 6; Stravinsky Suite Italienne; Chopin Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65
Thursday, January 19, 2012. Ensemble ACJW*
Program: Beethoven Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, Op. 11; David Bruce, Gumboots; Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2
Thursday, February 16, 2012, Julia Fischer*, violin, and Milana Chernyavska* piano
Program: Beethoven Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96 (“The Cockrow”); Ysaye Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, Op. 27, No. 1; Saint-Saens Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75
Thursday, March 1, 2012, Hagen String Quartet
Program: Beethoven String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95, “Serioso”; Haydn String Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2, “The Joke”; Mozart Quartet in D Major, K. 575
Thursday, March 15, 2012, Jerusalem String Quartet
Program: Beethoven Quartet in G-Major, Op. 18, No. 2; Debussy String Quartet; Brahms Quartet in A-minor, Op. 51, No. 2
Four virtuosi still in their 20s — three from the former Soviet Union and one from La Jolla — make up one of the hottest string quartets in the world.
Thursday, April 5, 2012, Jonathan Biss*
Program: Beethoven Sonata in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1; Janacek “In the Mists”; Beethoven Sonata in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”; Janacek Sonata 1.x.1905, “From the street”; Beethoven Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 81a, “Les Adieux”
Thursday, May 3, 2012, David Daniels, countertenor*, Martin Katz, piano; Mark Morris, choreographer* A recital with dance, including songs by Gluck, Handel and Brahms (world premiere)
The season finale marks a first in the 118-year history of Princeton University Concerts — an interdisciplinary presentation uniting music and dance. The greatest choreographer of his generation and perhaps the greatest countertenor of any generation continue a partnership that began with Gluck’s “Orfeo” at the Metropolitan Opera.
Richardson Chamber Players
Sunday, October 16, 2011, “Art & Memory,” part of the series Memory and the Work of Art, a Princeton community collaboration
Program: Ravel from Le Tombeau de Couperin for solo piano; Chausson Chanson perpetuelle for voice, string quartet and piano; Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time
Sunday, March 11, 2012, “Constable & Landscape”
Program: Beethoven Variations “See the conqu’ring hero comes” from Judas Maccabeus; Paul Lansky Ancient Echoes; Stravinsky Octet for winds; Brahms Variations of a Theme by Haydn for Two Pianos, Op. 56b
Sunday, May 6, 2012, “Constable & Landscape,” in collaboration with Princeton Art Museum exhibition: “Constable’s Cloud Studies”
Program: Debussy Nuages from Preludes for two pianos, arranged by Ravel; Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte for tenor and piano; Britten Phantasy Quartet for Oboe and Strings; Schumann Quintet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major, Op. 44
Bonus Concerts
Monday, December 12, 2011, the Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips, director, presented in collaboration with McCarter Theater
Nearing their 40th anniversary, the Tallis Scholars are “the rock stars of Renaissance vocal music,” in the words of the New York Times. Their holiday program is built around various masterful settings of the Magnificat, or Song of Mary, by composers who span the centuries. Among them, Renaissance composers Praetorius and Palestrina, and contemporary composers Taverner and Part.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Time for Three*, presented in collaboration with the Princeton School of Architecture
*Princeton University Concerts debut
Subscriptions on sale now. Single tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 6. 609-258-2800 or visit princetonuniversityconcerts.org.
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