December 2021
Chrystal E. Williams, mezzo Laurent Philippe, piano
A singer of rare power and clarity, Astral laureate and Academy of Vocal Arts graduate Chrystal E. Williams is acclaimed for her poise, polish, and complete command of a wide range of repertoire. “When you think of what makes singers memorable, it’s this idea of personalizing the material. Williams has it…” (Philadelphia Inquirer). Schumann: Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42 Braga: Cinco Canções Nordestinas do Folclore Brasileiro C. E. Williams: They Stand Alone Boykin: Moments in Sonder Selection of spirituals by…
Find out more »January 2022
Demarre McGill, flute Anthony McGill, clarinet Aizuri Quartet
Brothers Anthony and Demarre McGill have achieved a phenomenal level of success in the classical music world. The only siblings ever to win the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, Anthony was appointed the principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic, and Demarre is the principal flutist of the Seattle Symphony. The “elegant, inquisitive” (The New Yorker) Aizuri Quartet joins these two outstanding wind musicians for a program that ranges from Amy Beach’s Native American-inspired Theme and Variations to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s masterful, Dvořák-inspired Quintet and the world premiere of a new sextet by David Serkin Ludwig.
Beach: Theme and Variations, Op. 80
Serkin Ludwig: Sextet World Premiere/PCMS Commission
Beecher: Song in Mistranslation
Coleridge-Taylor: Clarinet Quintet in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 10
April 2022
James Reese, tenor Daniel Overly, piano
2019 Musical Fund Society Award Winner James Reese has been praised for the “intensity and sensitivity…spirituality and eloquence” (Chestnut Hill Local) of his singing. His PCMS recital debut program culminates in Hugo Wolf’s masterly Mörike-Lieder, a cycle that encompasses the full range of human experience and includes some of Wolf’s most popular and enduring songs. Britten: On This Island, Op. 11 L. Boulanger: Clairières dans le ciel Stephan: Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied G. Brown: Song Cycle TBA World…
Find out more »May 2022
Musical Fund Society 200th Anniversary Concert
Join us in celebrating the bicentennial of a Philadelphia musical treasure with a concert of world-premiere chamber works by four of America’s finest living composers. Performed by four leading Philadelphia ensembles, the newly-commissioned works are all rooted in the history of our city, connecting audiences with the rich musical life of past and present Philadelphia.
Find out more »Viano Quartet Roberto Díaz, viola
For over a decade Roberto Díaz, the President and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music and former principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, has appeared with PCMS each season. Roberto has performed in recital, as a guest with established chamber ensembles, and in the role of mentor with younger, lesser-known groups. No matter the setting, PCMS audiences have been impressed time and again by his poise, grace, leadership, magnificent sound, and outstanding musicianship. This season, he returns as a…
Find out more »The Frances Suite
The Frances Suite is a new musical and poetic work by noted Philadelphia composer Ruth Naomi Floyd exploring the life of abolitionist, suffragist, and writer Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Taking place in Frances’ adopted hometown of Philadelphia, The Frances Suite illuminates Frances’ visionary work and words, sharing a vital vision of Black womanhood, creativity, and advocacy.
Find out more »July 2022
The Book of Dawkins Songs
An expression of belief about the nature of life, and the joy we can find in understanding it, told through Richard Dawkins’ decidedly secular world view, paradoxically organized by David in the shape of a Christian Mass. Sumptuous Planet: A Dawkins Mass captures the famed biologist’s thoughts on the magnificence and staggering beauty of nature, as well as its utter indifference to our presence here. David’s musical world is one of anticipation and question – there is always another dimension…
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