EMERSON STRING QUARTET
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tonight New Orleans Friends of Music welcomes back The Emerson String Quartet for its 17th appearance. The Emerson String Quartet stands alone in the history of string quartets with an unparalleled list of achievements over three decades: thirty acclaimed recordings produced with Deutsche Grammophon since 1987, eight Grammy Awards (including two for Best Classical Album), three Gramophone Awards, the coveted Avery Fisher Prize, and cycles of the complete Beethoven, Bartók, and Shostakovich string quartets in the world’s musical capitals.
“With musicians like this there must be some hope for humanity.” — the times (london) Learn More

SPECIAL PREMIERE CONCERT: LERA AUERBACH and ANI AZNAVOORIAN
Friday, October 30, 2009 (Note: This is an extra non-subscription concert)
Friends of Music has co-commissioned a new work by the noted Russian-American composer and pianist Lera Auerbach. She will play her transcription of the Shostakovich 24 Preludes, Opus 34 with Ani Aznavoorian as well as other works by Auerbach and Rachmaninov. Auerbach is one of the most widely performed composers of the new generation, with a stylistic freedom that uniquely juxtaposes varied styles of musical language. Her compositions have been performed by distinguished artists including the Tokyo String Quartet, violinists Gidon Kremer and Philippe Quint; and cellists Alisa Weilerstein, David Finckel, and Wendy Warner. Ani Aznavoorian is an acclaimed young cellist who has appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic, and the Helsinki Philharmonic. She was recently appointed the distinguished position of principal cellist of Camerata Pacifica. She teaches at the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana. Learn More

KAVAFIAN-SCHUB-SHIFRIN CLARINET TRIO
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
After 25 years of friendship and music-making, violinist Ani Kavafian, pianist André-Michel Schub and clarinetist David Shifrin—each a true virtuoso and a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center—came together as a trio with undeniable chemistry. “The spontaneity, the excitement and the fun we have playing together is beyond what we ever anticipated,” they said. Combined they have performed with nearly every major orchestra around the world and in recital at the major concert halls.
“Satisfying as their individual music-making was, it was the quality of collaboration that always came to the fore.” – San Antonio Express-News Learn More

JUPITER STRING QUARTET
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Formed in 2001, the JUPITER STRING QUARTET, chose its name because Jupiter was the most prominent planet in the night sky at the time of its formation, and the astrological symbol for Jupiter resembles the number four. The Jupiters have received several chamber music honors, including first prize in the Banff International String Quartet Competition, membership in Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two, and Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award. Most recently, they were honored to receive an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
“String quartets, like fine wines, get better with age; the Jupiters are a very fine vintage indeed.”
– St. Louis Post-Dispatch Learn More

DAVID FINCKEL, cello, and WU HAN, piano
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ranked among the most esteemed and influential classical musicians in the world today, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han appear in the world’s most prestigious concert series and festivals as soloists, as a duo, and in David’s case, as cellist of the Emerson String Quartet. They also serve as co-artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. With a repertoire that spans virtually the entire literature for cello and piano, the husband-wife duo has garnered superlatives from the press and the public.
“When a pair of genuine artists explodes on the stage, exuding not only glamour and theatrical flair but also superb musical insight, the audience’s thrill is twofold.” – Chicago Sun-Times Learn More

PACIFICA QUARTET with MENAHEM PRESSLER, piano
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and often daring repertory choices, the Pacifica Quartet swept top prizes in several leading international competitions. Early in 2009 the group won a Grammy Award for “Best Chamber Music Performance”. On the occasion of this second visit to New Orleans, the ensemble will be performing with renowned pianist Menahem Pressler. who has made many appearances here. A founding member and pianist of the Beaux Arts Trio, Mr. Pressler has established himself among the world’s most distinguished and honored musicians, with a career that spans over five decades.
"There's no point in predicting future greatness for the young Pacifica Quartet. That future is already here.” — Los Angeles Times Learn More

WALSH-DRUCKER-COOPER TRIO
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 
At the conclusion of their first performance together in 2002 at the Skaneateles Festival, the members of the Walsh-Drucker-Cooper Trio received “a near-standing ovation” (Syracuse Post Standard) for their rendering of Dvorak’s Trio in f minor. Since then the group has returned twice to that festival, appeared at a variety of other series and festivals and on several radio broadcasts, including NPR’s Performance Today.
“From the opening notes of the Haydn Trio in e minor, there was an active, involved musical communication going on.... and intelligent shaping of the melodic content that in no way obscured the clarity of the discourse.” – Syracuse Post Standard

AHN PIANO TRIO
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sisters Maria, Lucia, and Angella of the Ahn Trio are redefining the art and architecture of chamber music, breathing new life into the standard piano-trio literature with commissioned works from visionary contemporary composers. With an innovative spirit and an ever-evolving vision of music, the three musicians are in high demand throughout the world and were named three of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2003. Their 1998 recording of trios by Dvorak, Suk, and Shostakovich on the EMI label won Germany’s prestigious ECHO Award.
“Together they coax a collective, dynamically flexible sound that gets us thinking about the bonding power of family.” – Los Angeles Times