Concerts & Tickets

Performing music from baroque to new commissions, on both modern and period instruments, Russian-born violinist Alina Ibragimova seemingly defies the laws of physics, playing with an “immediacy and honesty” that collapses “any sense of distance between performer and listener” (The Guardian). Ibragimova has a long-standing partnership with pianist Cédric Tiberghien, whose flourishing international career spans five continents where he has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious halls.

The Daedalus String Quartet is joined by Twin Cities cellist Wilhelmina Smith and actor Linda Kelsey for the final Music in the Park Series performance of the 2016-2017 season. Praised for its adventurous exploration of contemporary music, the New York-based Daedalus Quartet has established itself as a leader among the new generation of string ensembles. Wilhelmina Smith has received critical acclaim as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and orchestral soloist in the United States and abroad. Rounding out this special performance is Minnesota’s own Linda Kelsey, a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor with an extensive and impressive array of stage and screen credits.

Since its first concert in 1983, the Schubert Ensemble of London has become widely recognized as one of the world’s leading exponents of music for piano and strings. The Ensemble has decided to bring its illustrious 35-year career to a close at the end of June 2018 in celebratory style, with over fifty concerts planned during their final season, including a return visit to Music in the Park Series. Their eclectic program features “The Whole Earth Dances,” a new, nature-inspired work by young British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad; Vaughan Williams’ romantic and rarely-performed Piano Quintet in C-minor; and the grand finale--Franz Schubert’s much-beloved “Trout” quintet.

The Dover Quartet catapulted to international stardom following a stunning sweep of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition. Praised by The Strad for “exceptional interpretive maturity, tonal refinement and taut ensemble,” the quartet has become one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world. The Dover’s debut disc pays tribute to the renowned Guarneri Quartet, whose members served as mentors for the ensemble. Beginning their “mostly American” program with quartets by Richard Danielpour and Bartok, the Dover is joined by clarinetist David Shifrin to perform works for clarinet and string quartet by Alan Shulman and young American composer Chris Rogerson, along with arrangements of Duke Ellington compositions by noted composer David Schiff. Shifrin is in constant demand as an orchestral soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. His numerous recordings, including trios with cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, have consistently garnered awards. A member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 1989, Shifrin served as its artistic director from 1992 to 2004.

One of Germany’s most successful vocal groups, Calmus offers the unique combination of a soprano with four male voices ranging from bass to countertenor. The group has been awarded prizes in numerous international competitions, including the prestigious Concert Artists Guild Competition. Music in the Park Series brings the a cappella quintet to St. Paul with a program of carols from around the world − from 16th Italian century madrigals to traditional carols of France, Germany, Sweden and England, to American popular holiday songs. Embodying the rich choral tradition of its hometown of Leipzig, Germany, Calmus captivates both audiences and critics with its charming stage presence, flawless technique and entertaining presentations.

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Inspiring performances, luminous sound, and exceptional musicianship are the hallmarks of the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet. Well known to Twin Cities music lovers, the Parker made its debut on Music in the Park Series in 2007, subsequently serving as Artists-in-Residence at the University of St. Thomas, at the University of Minnesota, with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and as the first-ever Artists-in-Residence with Minnesota Public Radio. Currently Blodgett Artists-in-Residence at Harvard University’s Department of Music, the Parker Quartet has distinguished itself with acclaimed recordings, including György Ligeti’s complete works for string quartet, which won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance. The Parker’s Music in the Park Series concert will feature works by Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven.

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han rank among the most dynamic and influential forces in classical music today. Their performances have inspired audiences around the world and have won universal critical acclaim. Partners in music and marriage, they were recipients of Musical America’s prestigious Musicians of the Year award in 2012. David and Wu Han are in their third term as Artistic Directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and founding Artistic Directors of Music@Menlo, soon to celebrate its fifteenth season. A favorite of Music in the Park audiences, David Finckel and Wu Han make their fifth appearance on the series. Their program, titled “Distinctive Voices,” highlights works of Beethoven, Bruce Adolphe, Mendelssohn, Grieg, and a repeat performance of Lera Auerbach’s “Sonata for Cello and Piano,” composed for the duo and co-commissioned by Music in the Park Series in 2004.

This unique concert will celebrate the past and present Lark Quartet through music old and new, with the original quartet – founded in 1985 in the Twin Cities by native Laura Sewell – and the current Lark Quartet members for a total of eight musicians. In keeping with Lark’s tradition of broadening the chamber music repertory through diverse commissions, members of the current and original quartets join forces to perform the Minnesota premiere of Andrew Waggoner’s work for two string quartets. Dedicated to “the once and future Lark Quartet”, the commission was supported in part by the Thelma Hunter Fund of the American Composers Forum. Moving back in time to a work regarded as “one of the miracles of 19th century music”, the group brings the Music in the Park Series season to a close with a performance of Mendelssohn’s brilliant Octet in E-flat Major, written in 1825 when the composer was only sixteen years old.

The 2018-2019 Music in the Park Series will open with the return of Miró Quartet. Hailed by The New York Times as possessing “explosive vigor and technical finesse”, the dynamic Miró Quartet, one of America’s highest-profile chamber groups, enjoys its place at the top of the international chamber music scene. Founded in 1995 at the Oberlin Conservatory, the quartet met with immediate success winning first prize at the 50th annual Coleman Chamber Music Competition in April 1996, and taking both the first and grand prizes at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition two months later. In 2005, the Quartet received the Cleveland Quartet Award and was the first ensemble ever to be awarded the coveted Avery Fisher Career Grant. The quartet’s program comprises quartets by Schumann and Mendelssohn and, honoring their fierce devotion to contemporary music, Kevin Puts’ third string quartet entitled “Credo”. The Miró Quartet is named for the surrealist Spanish artist Joan Miró.

Making a welcome return to Music in the Park Series is the piano trio, Trio con Brio Copenhagen, hailed for their “unique sound and unity of interpretation” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung). Founded in Vienna in 1999 with the concept of pairs coming together, the two Korean Hong sisters and Jens Elvekjaer (who is married to Soo-Kyung Hong) have been exploring the piano trio repertoire with freshness and curiosity as well as with respect and reflection. Their Mendelssohn CD was chosen by Britain’s Classic FM as its Chamber Disc of 2011. Their program features piano trios by Beethoven, Brahms and the Piano Trio in G minor by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana written in response to the death of his daughter. Soo-Jin plays a violin built by Andrea Guarneri from the 17th century and Soo-Kyung plays a Grancino cello. Jens is Denmark’s first Steinway artist.

Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet
Elena Urioste, violin
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Michael Brown, piano

Clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, Twin Cities-based until recently, is considered one of today’s most exceptional performers of the instrument. He won first prize at the Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition and received the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. As a Juilliard graduate, he won first prize at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and received awards from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. Alex has invited his friends Elena Urioste (violin), Nicholas Canellakis (cello) and Michael Brown (piano) to join him for this program of Mieczysław Weinberg’s Clarinet Sonata and Olivier Messiaen’s much loved Quartet for the End of Time. Urioste, Canellakis and Brown have established themselves as three of the most sought-after young virtuosos on the classical music scene today. Each are winners, like Fiterstein, of an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Among the various other prizes and recognition they have individually won are inclusion in the BBC New Generation Artist Scheme, Sphinx and Concert Artists Guild competitions, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center auditions. They have performed in many of the most prestigious venues across the United States and Europe.

Highly regarded in early music circles, Ensemble Caprice is renowned for its innovative and expertly informed interpretations of baroque music. The Montreal-based ensemble has received national and international acclaim for its performances under the artistic direction of recorder and baroque flute virtuoso Matthias Maute (who recently added the role of Artistic Director for the Bach Society of Minnesota to his musical activities). Ensemble Caprice, whose members play recorder, cello, guitar and percussion returns to the Music in the Park Series with a program titled ‘iLove baroque”. Their program weaves together eight short stories featuring music of two centuries from five countries. Music by Bach, Falconiero, Schmelzer, Purcell and Vivaldi (among others) highlights the drama, tenderness, joy, humor and melancholy of being in love. A perfect way to celebrate St Valentine’s Day.