Festival Overview
The 2019 Seattle Chamber Music Society Summer Festival is a celebration of variety. From Purcell to Poulenc, Beethoven to Boulanger, the programs celebrate the astounding range of musical expression over the past four centuries.
It is one of my greatest pleasures as Artistic Director of this wonderful organization to create programs that feel both self-contained and also part of a larger, season long journey. We continue our celebration of the iconic masterworks along with our exploration of lesser-known gems. Special highlights include our continuing survey of the music of Georges Enescu (Concert Piece for Viola and Piano, July 12, Aubade for String Trio, July 24, and the US premiere of his early Piano Trio in G Minor, July 8), string quartets by both Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn (July 19, July 15), a set of early English songs with Festival favorite Nicholas Phan (July 10), Rachmaninov’s passionate and epic Piano Trio Op. 9 (July 22), and the world-premiere of Sebastian Currier’s Piano Quintet, commissioned by the SCMS Commissioning Club (July 15). Our season closes with one of the great masterpieces of all time, the Piano Quintet in F Minor by Johannes Brahms (July 26).
As always, celebrated world-class chamber musicians (seven of whom will be making their debuts with our organization) bring this music to life in the fabulous acoustics of Nordstrom Recital Hall.
We look forward to welcoming you to another wonderful summer of music!
James Ehnes
