May 17: Magdalena Kuźma Explores the Concept of Home in Newport Classical's Next Chamber Series Concert
Magdalena Kuźma Explores the Concept of Home in Newport Classical's Next Chamber Series Concert
Photo by Dario Acosta available in high resolution here.
Magdalena Kuźma Sings Barber, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin
Friday, May 17, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Newport Classical Recital Hall | 42 Dearborn St | Newport, RI
Tickets and Information
“a voice that instantly engages the listener: shining, free, and lustrous”
– Seen and Heard International
Newport, RI – Following its sold-out performance by the Balourdet Quartet in April, Newport Classical presents its next Chamber Series concert featuring soprano Magdalena Kuźma on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 7:30pm at Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn St.). Kuźma’s Newport Classical program explores the idea of home with works by Tom Cipullo, Frédéric Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Stefania Turkewich, Samuel Barber, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and Meredith Willson.
Newport Classical's Chamber Series takes place at Newport Classical Recital Hall in downtown Newport, known for its striking architecture and excellent acoustics. The Chamber Series reaffirms Newport Classical’s commitment to year-round classical music programming. Audiences are invited to enjoy performances by world-class classical musicians in a relaxed setting, with a complimentary glass of wine from Greenvale Vineyards. Both performers and audience members alike have described these concerts as some of their favorites. “The energy of [the] performers and audience was amazing. A truly culturally diverse audience, something we all strive for in the arts,” raved one attendee.
Praised as a “standout” with “star quality” by Opera News, Polish-American Magdalena Kuźma is establishing a name for herself in both concert and operatic repertoire. A current Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist, Kuźma made her mainstage Met debut this season as Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore. This summer, she makes her role debut as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro as a Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival. Previously, she has appeared at Opera Orlando, Santa Fe Opera, Yale Opera, Oberlin Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and Teatro Petrarca. An avid recitalist, Kuźma recently performed with LyricFest and made her Wigmore debut with leading song pianist James Baillieu.
Magdalena Kuźma holds multiple degrees in music and social neuroscience from The Juilliard School, Oberlin College & Conservatory, and Yale University. Well known on the competition circuit, Kuźma won first place in the Butler International, SAS Performing Arts, Opera Ithaca, ACPC Sembrich, Pasadena Opera, Mississippi Opera, Partners for the Arts, and Concert Artists Guild competitions. Later this year she debuts various programs at The Green Music Center, Merkin Hall, Bruno Walter Theater, and the Society of the Four Arts. She is also a proud alumna of San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, Santa Fe Opera, Ravinia Festival, Renée Fleming’s SongStudio at Carnegie Hall, Houston Grand Opera's Young Artists Vocal Academy, Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua Institute, and The Bach Institute at Emmanuel Music.
More about the Concert Program:
Magdalena Kuźma’s concert explores the many facets of the word home. The program begins with music from both sides of Kuźma’s Polish-American heritage. American composer Tom Cipullo’s Late Summer song cycle sets the poetry of William Heyen, Emily Dickinson, and Stanley Kunitz to themes of sun-filled summer days. Composed in 1829, Chopin’s Polish Songs, Op. 74 was published posthumously in 1859 by Julian Fontana. Kuźma will perform “Życzenie” (“The Maiden’s Wish”) and “Wiosna” (“Spring”), the first two songs from Polish Songs. Kuźma continues her program with Rachmaninoff's Six Romances, Op. 38, which draws on the rich Russian romance tradition.
Following intermission, Kuźma opens with a selection from Stefania Turkewich’s Ukrainian Folk Songs. Recognized widely as Ukraine’s first prominent woman composer, Turkewich blended modern musical styles with the traditions of Ukrainian folk music. Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 incorporates excerpts from James Agee’s writing of the same name, a prelude to his novel A Death in the Family. Knoxville was premiered in 1948 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Serge Koussevitzky and featuring soprano soloist Eleanor Steber, who commissioned the piece. Since its premiere, Barber’s work has become a mainstay of the soprano repertoire. Closing out Kuźma’s Newport Classical concert are two hit songs from Broadway. “If I Loved You” from Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1945 show Carousel is penultimate on the program with “Goodnight, my someone” from Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical The Music Man closing the concert.
More about Magdalena Kuźma: www.magdalenakuzma.com
Up next, Newport Classical presents two free Community Concerts featuring Empire Wild on April 28, 2024 at Newport Craft Brewing (293 JT Connell Highway) and Invoke on May 19, 2024 at Miantonomi Memorial Park (120 Hillside Ave). On June 7, pianistic powerhouse Asiya Korepanova closes this season’s Chamber Series at Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn Street) with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more. The 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 4-21, 2024. Celebrating its 55th anniversary, this year the Festival includes 27 concerts held in 11 historic venues over 18 days featuring 120 artists. Highlights include Opening Night with the dynamic and inspiring Sphinx Virtuosi and cello soloist Thomas Mesa; a sensational recital by acclaimed violinist Anne Akiko Meyers; the return to Newport of Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, and A Far Cry with special guests Kinan Azmeh and Dinuk Wijeratne; the Music Festival debut of the storied, Boston-based Handel and Haydn Society; two enchanting evenings with Tony Award-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti, recently a featured guest on HBO’s The Gilded Age; plus performances by star pianists Lara Downes, Joyce Yang, Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner, Drew Petersen, and Daniel del Pino; and appearances by numerous celebrated chamber ensembles including the Isidore String Quartet; PUBLIQuartet; Duo Kayo; Lincoln Trio; Fenway Quintet; Poulenc Trio with accordionist Hanzhi Wang; and Sō Percussion with vocalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival, Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In the 55 years since, Newport Classical has become the most active year-round presenter of music on Aquidneck Island, and an essential pillar of Rhode Island’s cultural landscape, welcoming thousands of patrons all year long.
Newport Classical invests in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form through its four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow. These programs illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music. To date, Newport Classical has commissioned and presented the world premiere of works by Stacy Garrop, Shawn Okpebholo, Curtis Stewart, and Clarice Assad.
Newport Classical Music Festival Presents 27 Concerts from July 4-21 in Newport's Historic Mansions and Venues
Announcing the 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival - 27 Concerts from July 4-21 - Celebrating 55th Anniversary
Photos available in high resolution here.
2024 Newport Classical Music Festival Presents
27 Concerts from July 4-21, 2024
Celebrating its 55th Anniversary
Performances by Anne Akiko Meyers, Laura Benanti, Lara Downes, Joyce Yang, Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, Handel and Haydn Society, A Far Cry,
Sphinx Virtuosi, PUBLIQuartet, Isidore String Quartet, Sō Percussion with Caroline Shaw, and many more
Opera Night at The Breakers featuring La tragédie de Carmen
World Premiere of a New Work by Clarice Assad
Commissioned by Newport Classical
Historic Venues include The Breakers, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, and more
Tickets on Sale: www.newportclassical.org/music-festival
Newport, RI – The 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival will present 27 concerts this summer between July 4-21, 2024, bringing timeless music for today to Newport’s stunning historic mansions and venues including The Breakers, Blithewold Mansion in Bristol, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, King Park, Newport Art Museum, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Redwood Library & Athenæum, and more.
The Newport Classical Music Festival celebrates its 55th anniversary in 2024. For 55 years, Newport Classical has been a beacon for artistry, drawing in countless concertgoers to revel in exceptional performances within unique and intimate settings. Each July, against the picturesque backdrop of the City by the Sea, the Newport Classical Music Festival stands out as an unparalleled experience. With 27 concerts held in 11 historic venues over 18 days featuring 120 artists, patrons can craft a Festival itinerary tailored to their preferences. Be it the discovery of a new composer, the rhythm of percussion, or revisiting a beloved work with a fresh perspective, audiences are invited to broaden their musical horizons.
Highlights of the 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival include Opening Night with the dynamic and inspiring Sphinx Virtuosi and cello soloist Thomas Mesa; a sensational recital by acclaimed violinist Anne Akiko Meyers; the return to Newport of Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, and A Far Cry with special guests Kinan Azmeh and Dinuk Wijeratne; the Music Festival debut of the storied, Boston-based Handel and Haydn Society; two enchanting evenings with Tony Award-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti, recently a featured guest on HBO’s The Gilded Age; plus performances by star pianists Lara Downes, Joyce Yang, Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner, Drew Petersen, and Daniel del Pino; and appearances by numerous celebrated chamber ensembles including the Isidore String Quartet; PUBLIQuartet; Duo Kayo; Lincoln Trio; Fenway Quintet; Poulenc Trio with accordionist Hanzhi Wang; and Sō Percussion with vocalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw.
For the fourth year in a row, Newport Classical has commissioned a brand new work to be premiered at the Music Festival. This year’s Composer-in-Residence is GRAMMY®-nominated Brazilian-American musician Clarice Assad, who is writing a new piece for mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier and PUBLIQuartet titled Whispers from the Pirate Queen, inspired by the unbreakable spirit of women who dare to challenge societal norms and fight for their convictions – including one of the earliest American feminists and famous Rhode Islander, Anne Hutchinson. Other highlights include the festival’s popular Opera Night at The Breakers which this year features Peter Brook’s production of Bizet’s La tragédie de Carmen, directed by Tara Barnham; Sunrise Meditations concerts; a concert inspired by nature at Norman Bird Sanctuary; a free Fourth of July concert at King Park; and this year’s young professional Newport Classical Festival Artists in eight performances throughout the festival.
Executive Director Gillian Friedman Fox, says, “Every summer Director of Artistic Planning and Engagement Trevor Neal and I aspire to curate a festival that celebrates the legacy of Newport Classical and introduces our audience to the musicians who are shaping the future of classical music. This year, for our 55th anniversary, we continue to honor music executed at the highest level and performed in magical settings. We are proud to offer an experience unlike any other.”
Now in its third year, Newport Classical’s Festival Artists Residency Program brings together five professional musicians at the early stages of their careers for an intense period of rehearsal and music making during the festival. This diverse group of emerging talents live, work, and play together, becoming engaged members of the community during their extended time in Newport. Each of these exceptionally gifted musicians are selected for their experience working in fast-paced chamber music settings and comfort tackling a wide range of repertoire. This summer, Newport Classical welcomes back returning artists Ariel Horowitz (violin), Jordan Bak (viola), and Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner (piano) alongside first-time artists SooBean Lee (violin) and Jonathan Swenson (cello). In varying configurations, the Festival Artists will perform in eight concerts as well as free community events.
2024 Newport Classical Music Festival Concerts:
The 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival kicks off on Thursday, July 4 at 7:30pm with a free, outdoor Fourth of July Patriotic Pops concert preceding the fireworks at King Park featuring Fenway Quintet, one of Boston’s most esteemed professional brass quintets, in a joyous program complete with percussion, celebrating America's birthday. This concert is part of the 2024 BankNewport Community Concerts Series, with additional support from a Rhode Island Foundation Community Grant.
Newport Classical Music Festival’s Opening Night concert on Friday, July 5 at 8pm at The Breakers features Sphinx Virtuosi, one of the nation’s most dynamic professional chamber orchestras, comprised of 18 of the nation's top Black and Latinx classical soloists. Set against the opulent backdrop of The Breakers, the self-conducted chamber orchestra will deliver a pioneering program spotlighting historically marginalized composers including Quenton Blache, Javier Farias, Andrea Casarrubios, Adolphus Hailstork, and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson. With cellist Thomas Mesa joining their ranks as soloist for GRAMMY®-winning composer Jessie Montgomery’s Divided, the brilliance and passion of this self-conducted ensemble promises to deliver an unforgettable performance.
On Saturday, July 6 at 8pm, GRAMMY®-nominated pianist Joyce Yang, who captivates audiences with her virtuosity and interpretive sensitivity, brings her tactile, expressive playing to The Breakers. Acclaimed by The New York Times for her “vivid and beautiful playing,” Yang promises a passionate evening featuring music by the legendary Russian composers of the Romantic and Classical eras including Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, and Mussorgsky.
On Sunday, July 7 at 9am, surrounded by the serene beauty of the Norman Bird Sanctuary, Newport Classical’s Festival Artists will present Italian Strings in Nature, a delightful program of Italian chamber music, including an arrangement of Rossini’s beloved William Tell Overture along with works by Boccherini, Cherubini, and Puccini.
In the evening on July 7, at 8pm at The Breakers, the GRAMMY® Award-winning male-voiced “orchestra of voices” Chanticleer makes their much-anticipated return to Newport after a sold-out concert during the 2021 Festival. Titled Music of a silent world, Chanticleer’s program features songs of the natural world and gives a voice to the rocks, stones, trees, and rivers that share the planet with us. Their performance will include music by Stephen Sondheim, Heinrich Isaac, and Joni Mitchell, and a new commission from Chanticleer’s composer-in-residence, Ayanna Woods.
On Tuesday, July 9, the day begins with an 11am concert at The Elms featuring the Festival Artists in an extraordinary program of Piano Trios. Delve into the rich tapestry of classical repertoire, beginning with Beethoven's lively and nimble Piano Trio in B-flat Major, journeying through Elfrida Andrée's evocative and dramatic Piano Trio in G minor, and culminating in the sublime beauty of Schumann's revered Piano Trio No. 1.
On Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10 at 8pm at The Breakers, Newport Classical welcomes Broadway’s legendary Laura Benanti, celebrated for her Tony Award-winning performances and captivating presence on stage and screen, including her memorable role in HBO's The Gilded Age. Known for her iconic portrayals in Gypsy, Into the Woods, Nine, and My Fair Lady, Benanti will dazzle audiences with her unparalleled talent, extraordinary voice, and undeniable star power in these intimate, not-to-be-missed performances with pianist Billy Stritch, music director for stars including Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli.
Two of last year’s Festival Artists, violist Edwin Kaplan and cellist Titilayo Ayangade, return to Newport as the innovative Duo Kayo for a performance on Wednesday, July 10 at 4pm at Newport Art Museum. Making bold statements in the classical music world, Duo Kayo challenges traditional thinking about the genre, serving as a vessel for new and exciting music. Surrounded by the Museum’s beautiful art collection, audiences can enjoy an interdisciplinary afternoon featuring a diverse program, from Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto, to Leonard Bernstein’s “Cool” from West Side Story, to the world premiere of a new piece by Newport Classical’s 2023 Composer-in-Residence Curtis Stewart. 2024 Festival Artists Jordan Bak and Jonathan Swenson join Kaplan and Ayangade for the final work by Paul Wiancko, Vox Petra.
On Thursday, July 11 at 11am, the Festival Artists present French Musings at The Elms. Inspired by the 18th-century French chateau d’Asnieres outside Paris, The Elms is the perfect place for a morning concert of delightful French repertoire ranging from Baroque elegance to neoclassical charm, including works by Marais, Leclair, Tailleferre, and Saint-Saëns.
That evening, Thursday, July 11 at 8pm, Opera Night brings director Peter Brook’s captivating reimagining of Bizet's timeless masterpiece Carmen to the festival, delving deep into the intricate relationships of the four lead characters. This semi-staged production of La tragédie de Carmen is directed by Tara Branham, and features the same beloved arias and musical moments, infused with renewed vitality and intensity, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of The Breakers. The cast includes Dane Suarez as Don José, Stephanie Sanchez as Carmen, Maria Brea as Micaëla, and Jeffrey Hoos as Escamillo, with music direction by Charles Kim.
Friday, July 12 begins with a 5:15am Sunrise Meditations concert at the Chinese Tea House. Witness the dawn of a new day with the Newport Classical Festival Artists as they enchant audiences with a program of meditative musical selections, immersing listeners in a journey curated to instill a sense of positivity and buoyancy, featuring music by Telemann, Glière, Sibelius, Haydn, and Elgar.
That evening, Friday, July 12 at 8pm at The Breakers, the GRAMMY®-nominated chamber orchestra A Far Cry returns to Newport, joined by Canadian pianist Dinuk Wijeratne and acclaimed Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, for an unforgettable evening of musical storytelling and global connection. This deeply personal and reflective program explores themes of emigration, travel, and home, featuring original compositions by Wijeratne and Azmeh in the first half. Following intermission, revel in the enchanting melodies of a young Janáček as he draws inspiration from Czech folk traditions, a lush showcase for the ensemble.
Hailed as the epitome of brass excellence, Canadian Brass treats Newport to an extensive program of compositions ranging from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 to the heartfelt melodies of the classic folk song “Danny Boy” on Saturday, July 13 at 8pm. Renowned for their captivating concert presentations that seamlessly blend virtuosity with charm, Canadian Brass promises to ignite The Breakers with their genre-transcending talents.
On Sunday, July 14 at 3pm, the Poulenc Trio with virtuoso accordionist Hanzhi Wang will present a spellbinding performance highlighting the accordion's versatility and charm at the historic Redwood Library & Athenæum. Their program spans genres and eras, creating an engaging musical dialogue, and includes music by Vivaldi, Poulenc, Rossini, plus emerging star composers Juri Seo and Viet Cuong, and the world premiere of a new work for solo accordion by Hanzhi Wang titled Mountain’s song: Echoes of Kawagarbo which reflects her personal pilgrimage to the sacred mountain.
That evening, Sunday, July 14 at 8pm, Newport Classical presents An Evening with Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. The GRAMMY®-nominated trailblazing violinist, joined by the virtuosic pianist Max Levinson, graces the illustrious halls of The Breakers in her Newport debut with an exquisite program that includes a new piece specifically commissioned for her by the legendary Philip Glass. Meyers’ concert also includes music by Corelli, Beethoven, Márquez, and Morten Lauridsen.
Newport Classical presents Classical Music Movie performed by the Festival Artists on Tuesday, July 16 at 11am at Blithewold Mansion, bringing together the magic of film with the beauty of chamber music. Experience John Williams' haunting Schindler's List and the nostalgic charm of E.T. alongside the adventurous spirit of Indiana Jones and the fantasy of Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Lord of the Rings, and more. Enjoy a boxed lunch on the grounds following the performance by pre-ordering from Blithewold in advance.
That evening, Tuesday, July 16 at 7:30pm, Two Pianos are Better than One unites the dynamic talents of Drew Petersen and Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner at the picturesque Castle Hill Inn, for a thoughtfully curated program of works for two pianos that includes music by Mozart, Wagner, Beach, Rachmaninoff, and Chaminade.
On Wednesday, July 17 at 11am, the Lincoln Trio performs a morning concert at The Elms that marks their 20th anniversary as an ensemble. Revered for their pioneering spirit and innovative contemporary repertoire, the Trio will perform the iconic Brahms C Major Piano Trio which catapulted them to acclaim alongside a curated selection of works by trailblazing female composers, including the visionary Stacy Garrop, whose groundbreaking composition left a lasting impression as the inaugural Composer-in-Residence for Newport Classical in 2021.
That evening, Wednesday July 17 at 8pm at The Breakers, Newport Classical presents the Isidore String Quartet. This red-hot young quartet was founded in 2019 at the Juilliard School and launched their career by winning one of the most prestigious awards in chamber music at the 2022 Banff Competition. Their artistry and potential were further recognized when they were awarded a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant. Hailed for their “blazing virtuosity” by Violinist.com, the Isidore Quartet aims to revisit, rediscover, and reinvigorate the string quartet repertoire. They perform music by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Billy Childs at The Breakers.
At The Breakers on Thursday, July 18 at 8pm, Spanish pianist and beloved past Festival Artist Daniel del Pino, accompanied by the talented violist Marian Herrero and the 2024 Festival Artists, unveils a treasure trove of rarely performed masterpieces by Spanish composers. Experience the richness and diversity of Spanish musical heritage in pieces by J.S. Bach, Bowen, De Falla, Del Campo, culminating with Joaquín Turina's celebratory masterpiece, Escena Andaluza for viola, piano, and string quartet.
Friday, July 19 begins with a 5:15am concert at Chinese Tea House, Melodic Introspections at Sunrise, performed by the Festival Artists. Experience the stunning sunrise over Newport’s iconic Cliff Walk during this inspiring and introspective concert which features works by Lei Liang, Dobrinka Tabakova, Wei-Chieh Lin, Florence Price, and Beethoven.
The Handel and Haydn Society, established in 1815 and acclaimed for its performances of Baroque and Classical music for 209 seasons, performs at The Breakers on Friday, July 19 at 8pm. The ensemble brings classical music to life with the same immediacy it had the day it was composed. Their joyful programming features acclaimed soloists soprano Joélle Harvey, violinist Aisslinn Nosky, and oboist Debra Nagy in a series of concerti and works for chamber orchestra from the Baroque period by Corelli, Handel, and J.S. Bach.
On Saturday, July 20, at 3pm, Festival Artist Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner performs an invigorating afternoon piano recital at historic Emmanuel Church, known for its breathtaking English Gothic Revival architecture that enhances the acoustic ambiance. “A gifted virtuoso” (San Francisco Chronicle), Sánchez-Werner quickly became a beloved pillar of the Newport Classical Music Festival last summer, bringing technical prowess and passion to every electrifying chamber performance. In this solo appearance, he performs music by Chopin, Beethoven, Rubio, Velázquez, and Rachaminoff.
That evening, on Saturday, July 20 at 8pm at The Breakers, PUBLIQuartet and special guest mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier perform the world premiere of a new work commissioned by Newport Classical from 2024 Composer-in-Residence Clarice Assad. A bold composer, a brilliant pianist, and an inventive vocalist, Assad's theatrical composition is her newest chapter in Chronicles of Ghosts. Whispers from the Pirate Queen explores the timeless bond between two remarkable women: Grace O'Malley, the legendary 16th-century Irish pirate queen, and Anne Hutchinson, the influential Puritan spiritual leader and pioneer of the 17th century. PUBLIQuartet pairs the new piece with What is American, a captivating reimagination of Dvořák's American Quartet, blending classical melodies with blues, jazz, and rock influences, as well as music by Vijay Iyer, Duke Ellington, and Julia Perry. At 11am that morning, Assad will give a free Composer Talk at Emmanuel Church Library, discussing her new work.
On Sunday, July 21 at 11am, Sō Percussion with vocalist and composer Caroline Shaw perform at The Colony House. Enjoy the vibrant collaboration of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw and the innovative Sō Percussion in an electrifying program blending voice and percussion quartet as they share the music from their newest album, Rectangles and Circumstance. Co-written by Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion, the genre-blending songs use verses from nineteenth-century poems by Christina Rosetti, Emily Brontë, Emily Dickinson, Gertrude Stein, and William Blake. Chamber music meets singer-songwriter storytelling in this extraordinary performance showcasing vital, expressive, and imaginative music-making.
That afternoon, Sunday, July 21 at 2pm, pianist Lara Downes, hailed as “a musical ray of hope” by NBC News, gives a free family concert at Temple Shalom, before performing at The Breakers that evening at 8pm in the Newport Classical Music Festival Closing Night concert. The American pianist and cultural visionary returns to Newport after a sold-out performance on the 2021 Festival to present THIS LAND, a concert that captures 100 years of American transformation, celebrating the spirit of innovation and imagination, resilience and resistance, and reflecting a wide diversity of voices to illustrate the beauty that grows at the crossroads of our American journeys. THIS LAND features music by Scott Joplin, Arturo O’Farrill, Florence Price, Kian Ravaei, William Grant Still, Angelica Negrón, Jake Heggie, Margaret Bonds, George Gershwin, and more.
For the full schedule, visit: www.newportclassical.org/music-festival
About Newport Classical
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival, Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In the 55 years since, Newport Classical has become the most active year-round presenter of music on Aquidneck Island, and an essential pillar of Rhode Island’s cultural landscape, welcoming thousands of patrons all year long.
Newport Classical invests in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form through its four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow. These programs illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music. To date, Newport Classical has commissioned and presented the world premiere of works by Stacy Garrop, Shawn Okpebholo, Curtis Stewart, and Clarice Assad.
Newport Classical Announces Spring Community Concerts Free, Casual, and Welcoming to All
Newport Classical Announces Spring Community Concerts
Free, Casual, and Welcoming to All
L-R: Empire Wild (photo by Titilayo Ayangade), Invoke (photo by Nathan Russell) available in high resolution here.
Newport Classical Announces Spring Community Concerts
Free, Casual, and Welcoming to All
Presented by BankNewport
Empire Wild
Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 2:30pm
Newport Craft Brewing | 293 JT Connell Highway | Newport, RI
Invoke
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2:30pm
Miantonomi Memorial Park | 120 Hillside Ave | Newport, RI
Information & Registration: www.newportclassical.org
Newport, RI – Newport Classical presents two spring Community Concerts featuring Empire Wild on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 2:30pm at Newport Craft Brewing (293 JT Connell Highway) and Invoke on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 2:30pm at Miantonomi Memorial Park (120 Hillside Ave). Audiences can look forward to these casual, engaging, and welcoming concerts – presented right in their own Newport neighborhoods. The performances are free and advanced registration is required for Empire Wild due to the limited capacity of the Taproom. Registration is requested but not required for Invoke’s performance at Miantonomi Memorial Park.
On April 28, Empire Wild brings a genre-bending musical experience to Newport Craft Brewing, where audiences can purchase beer and bites to enjoy during the performance. Empire Wild channels their love for musical exploration into their sound, fusing pop, folk, jazz, and more. In this program, the group puts its own spin on music by composers whose work has endured the test of time. Hear classics by Beethoven, Ravel, Bach and more brought to new life in the trio’s unique arrangements, at this free concert – fun for listeners of all ages.
On May 19, Invoke, described as “...not anything but everything: Classical, Folk, Bluegrass, Americana and a sound yet to be termed seamlessly merged into a perfect one,” brings its signature blend to Miantonomi Memorial Park. Invoke strives to successfully dodge even the most valiant attempts at genre classification. The multi-instrumental quartet encompasses traditions from across America, including bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, jazz, and minimalism. Featuring violin, viola and cello, plus banjo, mandolin, and vocals, this free, family-friendly concert promises a joyful afternoon outdoors, with music and community.
These free concerts are generously presented as part of the BankNewport Community Concerts Series with additional support from the NewportFed Charitable Foundation, RISCA, and a Rhode Island Foundation Community Grant.
Up next as part of Newport Classical’s Chamber Series, on March 22 bassoonist Eleni Katz and pianist Evren Ozel bring to life classical bassoon repertoire exploring themes of dance styles, rhythms, lyricism, and emotion, at Newport Classical Recital Hall in downtown Newport. Newport Classical’s April 26 Chamber Series concert will be performed by the award-winning Balourdet Quartet, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, and will feature music by Mozart, Beethoven, and Karim Al-Zand. Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, praised as a "standout" with "star quality" by Opera News, performs a program spanning from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hammerstein on May 17. On June 7, pianist Asiya Korepanova closes the Chamber Series with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more. Celebrating its 55th anniversary, the 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 4-21, 2024, with programming to be announced on March 26, and tickets going on sale to the general public on April 10.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival, Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
March 22: Newport Classical Brings Eleni Katz and Evren Ozel in Music by Saint-Saëns and Debussy to Downtown Newport
Newport Classical Brings Eleni Katz and Evren Ozel in Music by Saint-Saëns and Debussy to Downtown Newport
Eleni Katz (left) and Evren Ozel (right). Photo by Geneva Lewis available in high resolution here.
Eleni Katz and Evren Ozel play Saint-Saëns and Debussy
Friday, March 22, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Newport Classical Recital Hall | 42 Dearborn St | Newport, RI
Tickets and Information
Read an interview with Eleni Katz in the Newport Daily News
“potent and agile bassoon”
–South Florida Classical Review
“daring creativity and fierce passion”
–ClevelandClassical.com
Newport, RI – Continuing its commitment to ongoing year-round programming and following two sold out concerts in January and February, Newport Classical presents its next Chamber Series concert featuring bassoonist Eleni Katz and pianist Evren Ozel on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 7:30pm at Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn St.). In her Newport Classical debut, Eleni Katz performs music by French composers Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Noël Gallon, and Camille Saint-Saëns alongside Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Deep River, 2024 GRAMMY-winner Jeff Scott’s Elegy for Innocence, and Cindy Hsu’s Spring Fever. Katz will be joined by pianist Evren Ozel in his return to the Newport Classical stage – together the two bring to life classical bassoon repertoire exploring themes of dance styles, rhythms, lyricism, and emotion.
Newport Classical's Chamber Series takes place at Newport Classical Recital Hall in downtown Newport, known for its striking architecture and excellent acoustics. Audiences are invited to enjoy these performances by world-class classical musicians in a relaxed setting, with a complimentary glass of wine from Greenvale Vineyards. Both performers and audience members alike have described these concerts as some of their favorites. “I always enjoy the artist, but I also enjoy the attendees. Each attendee seems to have such a genuine interest in the music,” raved one concert goer. “The concert was absolutely breathtaking ... What beautiful music and a perfect setting for the performance,” said another.
Hailed for her virtuosity and vibrant musical spirit, bassoonist Eleni Katz has established herself as a prominent soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player – and one of the country’s foremost bassoonists. What makes Katz’s performances special is her approach to this instrument. Eleni Katz is a classically trained singer and has always believed that the bassoon should emulate the human voice. The Royal Gazette described her playing as “uncannily human.”
A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Eleni Katz trained at University of Wisconsin’s Mead Witter School of Music before earning her master’s degree at the Yale School of Music. In 2022, she was named a winner of the Concert Artist Guild Competition and enjoyed her Carnegie Hall debut through Young Performers Career Advancement. She performs across the country including with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Jupiter Chamber Players, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra.
Pianist Evren Ozel has established himself as a musician of “refined restraint” (Third Coast Review), combining fluent virtuosity with probing, thoughtful interpretations. He is the recipient of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 2022 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, and is currently represented by Concert Artists Guild as an Ambassador Prize Winner of their 2021 Victor Elmaleh Competition. Most recently, he was selected as a Bowers Program Artist for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Since his debut at age 11 with the Minnesota Orchestra, Ozel has gone on to be a featured soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Boston POPS Orchestra, and The Orchestra Now at Bard College.
More about the Concert Program:
Eleni Katz and Evren Ozel will begin their concert in Newport with Camille Saint-Saëns’ Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op. 168, showcasing the full range of the bassoon’s rich dynamics and lyricism, before performing Debussy’s Images II and Ravel’s Pièce en forme de Habanera. Originally written for bass voice and piano, Ravel later transcribed his Pièce en forme de Habanera for cello and piano. The work incorporates the grace and movement of the habanera dance form with technically difficult melodic passages and lush accompaniment. Cindi Hsu’s Spring Fever opens the program following intermission. Composed in the spring of 2017, Hsu’s two-movement piece for bassoon and piano is inspired by the spring-bloom of flower fields outside her Colorado home.
The penultimate work on Katz’s and Ozel’s program, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Deep River, draws on the tradition of Black spirituals. Coleridge-Taylor famously noted, “What Brahms has done for the Hungarian folk music, Dvořák for the Bohemian, and Grieg for the Norwegian, I have tried to do for these Negro Melodies.” Closing out the program is Jeff Scott’s Elegy for Innocence. Beginning with emotive melodic ascensions, the piece quickly turns darker, with virtuosic interplay between the bassoon and piano, encompassing the hardships of personal growth. The program also includes selections from Debussy’s Preludes, Book 1; Noel Gallon’s Récit et Allegro, a mainstay of the bassoon repertoire; Leon Kirchner’s Interlude II; and Coleridge-Taylor’s The Phantom Tells his Tale of Longing, Op. 66.
More about Eleni Katz: www.elenikatzbassoon.com
More about Evren Ozel: www.evrenozel.com
Newport Classical’s next Chamber Series concert is on April 26, performed by the award-winning Balourdet Quartet, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, featuring music by Mozart, Beethoven, and Karim Al-Zand. Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, praised as a "standout" with "star quality" by Opera News, performs a program spanning from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hammerstein on May 17. On June 7, pianist Asiya Korepanova closes the Chamber Series with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more. The 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 4-21, 2024, with programming to be announced on March 26.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival, Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
Newport Classical Celebrates the Holiday Season with Two Programs in December
Newport Classical Celebrates the Holiday Season with Two Programs in December
Newport Classical Celebrates the Holiday Season
with Two Programs in December
Messiah at the Mansion
Featuring The Choir School of Newport County and Ensemble Altera
Sunday, December 3, 2023 | 1pm and 3:30pm
Rosecliff | 548 Bellevue Ave. | Newport, RI
Classical Christmas
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | 3pm
Emmanuel Church | 42 Dearborn St. | Newport, RI
Tickets & Information: www.newportclassical.org
Newport, RI – Newport Classical celebrates the season with two weekends of holiday programs in December – Messiah at the Mansion featuring The Choir School of Newport County and Ensemble Altera in two performances on Sunday, December 3 at 1pm and 3:30pm at Rosecliff (548 Bellevue Ave.), and Classical Christmas on Saturday, December 16 at 3pm at Emmanuel Church (42 Dearborn St.), which brings together talented musicians from the community.
Messiah at the Mansion on December 3 features Handel’s iconic oratorio Messiah performed by Rhode Island’s Ensemble Altera, led by Christopher Lowrey, and the Professional Choristers of The Choir School of Newport County, led by Peter Berton, surrounded by the splendor of Rosecliff mansion. Described by the Boston Musical Intelligencer as “seamless ensemble perfection,” Ensemble Altera offers a boldly reimagined chamber version of Handel’s timeless classic with The Choir School of Newport County, including the famous “Hallelujah Chorus.” Newport Classical is proud to present the third year of this annual holiday tradition, perfect for the whole family. Messiah at the Mansion is sponsored by Cynthia Sinclair through her generous support of The Choir School of Newport County.
Classical Christmas on December 16 is a community holiday celebration held in the English Gothic Revival architecture of Emmanuel Church. Newport Classical presents a delightful afternoon of holiday chamber music including works from the classical repertoire, traditional carols, and a grand finale featuring selections from Vivaldi’s Gloria. A memorable holiday experience for audiences of all ages, the concert is followed by a festive reception graciously hosted by the Vestry of Emmanuel Church.
Newport Classical’s Chamber Series at Newport Classical Recital Hall continues on November 3, when violinist William Hagen, hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso…a standout” (The Dallas Morning News), performs with pianist Orion Weiss. On January 26, rising-star pianist Eric Lu, who has been described by The Guardian as “a veritable poet of the keyboard,” will make his Newport Classical debut in a program featuring music by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Bach, and Chopin. The Galvin Cello Quartet, which burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition, will perform on February 23. Bassoonist Eleni Katz and pianist Evren Ozel take the stage on March 22 in a program celebrating the many facets of the bassoon, featuring music by Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Coleridge-Taylor, and more. On April 26, the award-winning Balourdet Quartet, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, will present a program featuring Hadyn, Kurtág, and Schubert. Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, praised as a "standout" with "star quality" by Opera News, performs a program spanning from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hammerstein on May 17. On June 7, pianist Asiya Korepanova closes the Chamber Series with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival, Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
Newport Classical Presents Next Chamber Series Concert – Violinist William Hagen and Pianist Orion Weiss Play Dvořák & Brahms
Newport Classical Presents Next Chamber Series Concert Violinist William Hagen and Pianist Orion Weiss Play Dvořák & Brahms
Friday, November 3, 2023 at 7:30pm
Newport Classical Recital Hall
L-R: William Hagen, Orion Weiss
Hagen photo credit: Tyler Rye | Weiss photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
Newport Classical Presents Next Chamber Series Concert
Violinist William Hagen and Pianist Orion Weiss Play Dvořák & Brahms
Friday, November 3, 2023 at 7:30pm
Newport Classical Recital Hall | 42 Dearborn St | Newport, RI
“Hagen’s violin rises from the orchestra to ever-loftier heights with a performance that is as passionate as it is poignantly phrased”
– Florida Times-Union
Tickets and Information: https://newportclassical.org/event/william-hagen
Newport, RI – Continuing its commitment to ongoing year-round programming, Newport Classical presents its next Chamber Series concert featuring the internationally acclaimed violinist William Hagen in an evening of virtuosic chamber music. Joined by renowned pianist Orion Weiss, Hagen takes the stage in downtown Newport at Newport Classical’s home venue, Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn St.) on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 7:30pm.
In this performance, Newport audiences will hear the “captivating” (The Dallas Morning News) chamber music of Hagen and the “powerful technique and exceptional insight” (The Washington Post) of Weiss. The third-prize winner of the 2015 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, William Hagen is an established international soloist, performing with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Christian Arming, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Michel Tabachnik, and Hugh Wolff. Known for his affinity for chamber music, Orion Weiss has performed in recent seasons with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic. He is the recipient of the Classical Recording Foundation’s Young Artist of the Year, Gilmore Young Artist Award, and an Avery Fisher Career Grant.
In the duo’s Newport debut, Hagen and Weiss bookend their program with the music of Dvořák and his mentor, Brahms. Written and published in 1887, Dvořák’s Four Romantic Pieces, Op. 75 were adapted from his Bagatelles for String Trio. The resulting miniatures for violin and piano combine Dvořák’s charming lyricism with the passion and expressiveness of the Late Romantic period. Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2 is one of the most imperious works in the repertoire. Quasi-symphonic in scope, the piano and violin interplay with one another as foils, culminating in a work of drama and power. The sonata is a favorite among many musicians and audiences alike. Among the last pieces that Clara Schumann ever wrote, her Three Romances, Op. 22 were composed in 1853 and premiered in 1855. The work was dedicated to her close friend and violinist, Joseph Joachim, who she performed the piece with on countless occasions. Also written for violinist Joseph Joachim, Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 was composed in 1888 and was his last contribution to piano-violin duo literature. A contrast from his previous two works in the genre, Brahms’ Third Sonata is grand in scale, technically demanding, and tempestuously dramatic. The piece was quickly accepted as part of the standard repertoire and remains so 130 years later.
More about the artists:
https://www.williamhagen.com/#biography
https://www.orionweiss.com/about-orion
Newport Classical’s next performance on December 3 features Handel’s iconic oratorio Messiah performed by Rhode Island’s premier vocal powerhouse, Ensemble Altera and the Professional Choristers of The Choir School of Newport County. Newport Classical will also present a community concert of holiday chamber music on December 16 in Emmanuel Church. On January 26 in the next Chamber Series concert, rising-star pianist Eric Lu, who has been described by The Guardian as “a veritable poet of the keyboard," will make his Newport Classical debut in a program featuring music by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Bach, and Chopin. The Galvin Cello Quartet, which burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition, will perform on February 23. Bassoonist Eleni Katz and pianist Evren Ozel take the stage on March 22 in a program celebrating the many facets of the bassoon, featuring music by Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Coleridge-Taylor, and more. On April 26, the award-winning Balourdet Quartet, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, will present a program featuring Hadyn, Kurtág, and Schubert. Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, praised as a "standout" with "star quality" by Opera News, performs a program spanning from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hammerstein on May 17. On June 7, pianist Asiya Korepanova closes the Chamber Series with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts
About Newport Classical:
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival, Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
Newport Classical Presents Two Free Community Concerts
Newport Classical Announces Fall Community Concerts Featuring Sybarite5 and Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand
Free, Casual, and Welcoming to All, Presented by BankNewport
L-R: Sybarite 5, Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand
Sybarite 5 photo credit: Shervin Lainez | CityBand photo credit: Liudmila Jeremies
Newport Classical Announces Fall Community Concerts
Free, Casual, and Welcoming to All
Presented by BankNewport
Sybarite5
Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 2:30pm
Great Friends Meeting House | 21 Farewell Street | Newport, RI
Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand
Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 2:30pm
Newport Craft Brewing | 293 JT Connell Highway | Newport, RI
Newport, RI – Continuing its commitment to ongoing year-round programming, Newport Classical presents two fall Community Concerts featuring Sybarite5 on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 2:30pm at Miantonomi Memorial Park (120 Hillside Ave) and Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 2:30pm at Newport Craft Brewing (293 JT Connell Highway). Audiences can look forward to casual, engaging, and welcoming concerts right in their own Newport neighborhoods. The performances are free and advanced registration is requested but not required.
On September 10, Sybarite5, described as “hyper-accurate yet fiercely vivacious” by I Care If You Listen, presents its signature cocktail of post-genre musical goodness expressed through the virtuosity of five accomplished string musicians – violinists Sami Merdinian and Suliman Tekalli; violist Caeli Smith; cellist Laura Andrade; and double bassist Louis Levitt. This exciting quintet is constantly evolving, defying categorization, and has been keeping audiences on their toes for ten years. Diversity is a strength and Sybarite5 is known for bridging genre gaps to bring unexpected musical combinations together, creating unique, dynamic, and intoxicating concert experiences. Expect works from John Coltrane, Radiohead, Xavier Foley, Komitas, The Punch Brothers, Pedro Giraudo, Marc Mellits, Jessica Meyer, Kenji Bunch, Shawn Conley, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Astor Piazzolla, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and more.
On October 8, Kinan Azmeh’s CityBand comes to Newport Craft Brewing for an afternoon of music, food trucks, and beverages. The Kinan Azmeh CityBand (Kinan Azmeh, clarinet; Kyle Sanna, guitar; Josh Myers, bass; and Shane Shanahan, drums) immediately gained recognition for their virtuosic and high energy performance, receiving praise from critics and audiences alike. With this New York ensemble, clarinetist Azmeh strives to reach a balance between classical music, jazz, and the music of his homeland, Syria. Azmeh’s expressive clarinet meets Kyle Sanna’s rustic guitar, soaring at times over the dynamic and volatile backdrop of Shane Shanahan’s percussion and Josh Myers’ double bass. Each band member has come from varied backgrounds to add their personal flair to this ensemble, resulting in a thoroughly exciting and rewarding listening experience.
“BankNewport is proud to support Newport Classical as presenting sponsor for the Community Concert Series again this season," said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “Throughout our more than 200 year history, we have been committed to arts and culture within our local communities. Newport Classical's efforts to ensure that music is accessible to all perfectly aligns with our ‘All In’ mission.”
This concert is generously presented as part of the BankNewport Community Concerts Series, with additional support from the Newport County Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, Rhode Island Foundation Community Grant and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
Up next, Newport Classical’s Chamber Series opens on September 1 with musicians from Young Concert Artists on Tour, featuring today’s emerging star performers and arts leaders in music by Mendelssohn, Strauss, and more. On October 6, internationally renowned soloists and chamber musicians violinist Chad Hoopes and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott come together to create an exciting duo in a program anchored by Beethoven’s Sonata No. 9. Hoopes previously performed on the series in 2022, and McDermott has a long relationship with the organization – from 1990 to 1997, she was in residence as a Festival Artist. Violinist William Hagen, who performs on November 3 with pianist Orion Weiss, has been hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso…a standout” (The Dallas Morning News). On January 26, rising-star pianist Eric Lu, who has been described by The Guardian as “a veritable poet of the keyboard," will make his Newport Classical debut in a program featuring music by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Bach, and Chopin. The Galvin Cello Quartet, which burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition, will perform on February 23. Bassoonist Eleni Katz and pianist Evren Ozel take the stage on March 22 in a program celebrating the many facets of the bassoon, featuring music by Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Coleridge-Taylor, and more. On April 26, the award-winning Balourdet Quartet, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, will present a program featuring Hadyn, Kurtág, and Schubert. Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, praised as a "standout" with "star quality" by Opera News, performs a program spanning from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hammerstein on May 17. On June 7, pianist Asiya Korepanova closes the Chamber Series with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit
www.newportclassical.org/concerts
About Newport Classical
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival (NMF), Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity presenting the American debuts of over 130 international artists and rarely heard works and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. The organization has produced more than 2,000 concerts and hosted more than 1,000 musicians and singers. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programming initiatives – the iconic summer Music Festival taking place across Newport; the year-round Chamber Series at the organization’s home base Newport Classical Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church in downtown Newport; the free family-friendly Community Concerts held in green spaces around Aquidneck Island; and its newly expanded Music Education and Engagement Initiative program – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
Newport Classical Announces 2023-2024 Chamber Series Concerts from September through June
Newport Classical Announces 2023-2024 Chamber Series Concerts Tickets on Sale August 1
Including a Special Concert on October 6 Featuring Internationally Renowned Violinist Chad Hoopes and Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott
Newport Classical Announces 2023-2024 Chamber Series Concerts
Tickets on Sale August 1
Including a Special Concert on October 6 Featuring Internationally Renowned Violinist Chad Hoopes and Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott
“Embracing a new tune, Newport [Classical] is reimagining classical music for a wider audience.”
– The Public’s Radio
Information & Tickets: www.newportclassical.org
Newport, RI – Following its successful summer festival, Newport Classical continues its commitment to ongoing year-round programming for the third year, with a full season, nine-concert Chamber Series held on Fridays at 7:30pm, running from September 2023 through June 2024 at the organization’s home venue, Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn St.). Tickets will go on sale to the public on August 1 at www.newportclassical.org.
Newport Classical Executive Director Gillian Friedman Fox says, “This year’s Newport Classical Music Festival drew nearly 7,500 attendees, with 38% of audience members attending a concert for the first time. We are so thrilled to have welcomed so many familiar faces and new patrons to experience classical music with us in an inviting and intimate atmosphere. Our Chamber Series continues this programming throughout the year, and we can’t wait to share with the community the incredible artistry of these world-class musicians who will be coming to perform from September through June in downtown Newport.”
As part of Newport Classical’s desire to create connections between classical music, the artists who perform it, and the Newport community, all musicians performing on the Chamber Series will also go into the Newport-area public schools to perform for and speak with students, through Newport Classical’s Music Education and Engagement initiative.
Newport Classical’s Chamber Series opens on September 1 with musicians from Young Concert Artists on Tour, featuring today’s emerging star performers and arts leaders in music by Mendelssohn, Strauss, and more. On October 6, internationally renowned soloists and chamber musicians violinist Chad Hoopes and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott come together to create an exciting duo in a program anchored by Beethoven’s Sonata No. 9. Hoopes previously performed on the series in 2022, and McDermott has a long relationship with the organization – from 1990 to 1997, she was in residence as a Festival Artist. Violinist William Hagen, who performs on November 3 with pianist Orion Weiss, has been hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso…a standout” (The Dallas Morning News). On January 26, rising-star pianist Eric Lu, who has been described by The Guardian as “a veritable poet of the keyboard," will make his Newport Classical debut in a program featuring music by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Bach, and Chopin. The Galvin Cello Quartet, which burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition and the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition, will perform on February 23. Bassoonist Eleni Katz and pianist Evren Ozel take the stage on March 22 in a program celebrating the many facets of the bassoon, featuring music by Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Coleridge-Taylor, and more. On April 26, the award-winning Balourdet Quartet, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, will present a program featuring Hadyn, Kurtág, and Schubert. Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, praised as a "standout" with "star quality" by Opera News, performs a program spanning from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to Rodgers and Hammerstein on May 17. On June 7, pianist Asiya Korepanova closes the Chamber Series with music by Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Beach, Chopin, and more.
During the 2023-2024 season, Newport Classical will also present several free family-friendly Community Concerts at neighborhood-centered locations, generously sponsored by BankNewport, and two holiday programs, which will be announced later this year. The 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 4-21, 2024.
Newport Classical 2023-2024 Chamber Series Schedule At-A-Glance:
September 1: Young Concert Artists Sing Mendelssohn and Strauss
October 6: Chad Hoopes and Anne-Marie McDermott in Concert
November 3: Violinist William Hagen Plays Dvořák and Brahms
January 26: Pianist Eric Lu Performs Bach and Mendelssohn
February 23: Galvin Cello Quartet Plays Vivaldi and Piazzolla
March 22: Eleni Katz and the Bassoon
April 26: Balourdet Quartet Plays Schubert and Haydn
May 17: Soprano Magdalena Kuźma Sings Barber, Rachmaninoff, Chopin
June 7: Pianist Asiya Korepanova Plays Mussorgsky and Rachmaninoff
Complete concert details can be found at www.newportclassical.org/concerts. All Chamber Series concerts are held on Fridays at 7:30pm at Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn Street).
About Newport Classical
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival (NMF), Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity presenting the American debuts of over 130 international artists and rarely heard works and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. The organization has produced more than 2,000 concerts and hosted more than 1,000 musicians and singers. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programming initiatives – the iconic summer Music Festival taking place across Newport; the year-round Chamber Series at the organization’s home base Newport Classical Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church in downtown Newport; the free family-friendly Community Concerts held in green spaces around Aquidneck Island; and its newly expanded Music Education and Engagement Initiative program – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
2023 Newport Classical Music Festival - Presenting Timeless Music for Today in 27 Concerts from July 4-23, 2023
Performances by Kelli O’Hara, Hélène Grimaud, Anthony McGill, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, The Knights, Simone Dinnerstein, Cantus, Aizuri Quartet, Hermitage Piano Trio, and many more
Opera Night at The Breakers featuring Così fan tutte
World Premiere of The Gilded Cage by Curtis Stewart
Commissioned by Newport Classical
Historic Venues include The Breakers, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, and more
2023 Newport Classical Music Festival
Presenting Timeless Music for Today in 27 Concerts from July 4-23, 2023
Performances by Kelli O’Hara, Hélène Grimaud, Anthony McGill, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, The Knights, Simone Dinnerstein, Cantus, Aizuri Quartet, Hermitage Piano Trio, and many more
Opera Night at The Breakers featuring Così fan tutte
World Premiere of The Gilded Cage by Curtis Stewart
Commissioned by Newport Classical
Historic Venues include The Breakers, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, and more
Tickets & Information: www.newportclassical.org/music-festival
Newport, Rhode Island – The 2023 Newport Classical Music Festival will present twenty-seven concerts this summer between July 4-23, 2023, bringing timeless music for today to Newport’s stunning historic mansions and venues including The Breakers, Blithewold Mansion, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, King Park, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Redwood Library & Athenæum, and more. Tickets are now available at www.newportclassical.org/music-festival or by calling the Box Office at 401-849-1133 x1.
Highlights of the 2023 Newport Classical Music Festival include performances by Broadway and opera star Kelli O'Hara (currently starring in HBO’s The Gilded Age, filmed in Newport); Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; The Knights; renowned pianists Hélène Grimaud, Simone Dinnerstein, and Charlie Albright; New York Philharmonic principal clarinetist Anthony McGill in a return performance with pianist Anna Polonsky; riveting low-voice acapella ensemble Cantus; celebrated chamber ensembles including the Hermitage Piano Trio, Aizuri Quartet, Excelsis Percussion Quartet, Sinta Saxophone Quartet, and Fenway Quintet; acclaimed cellists Zlatomir Fung and Amit Peled; charismatic Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing; and the world premiere of The Gilded Cage, a new work commissioned by Newport Classical from three-time GRAMMY®-nominated violinist/composer Curtis Stewart. Other highlights include the festival’s popular Opera Night at The Breakers featuring Così fan tutte in a bold new un-staged production, Sunrise Meditations concerts, a concert inspired by nature at Norman Bird Sanctuary, a free Fourth of July concert at King Park, and this year’s young professional Newport Classical Festival Artists in nine performances throughout the festival.
Executive Director Gillian Friedman Fox, says, "This year’s Festival encapsulates the full range of expression within classical music. From solo piano and string recitals to large chamber ensembles and vocal performances, each concert draws upon varied instrumentation to offer interpretations of repertoire from the Baroque period all the way to today. I hope audiences come away from this summer feeling inspired, having musical experiences that turn them on to a new composer or performance style.”
Newport Classical’s Festival Artists program brings together professional musicians at the early stages of their careers for an intense period of rehearsal and music making during the festival. This year’s Festival Artists are Ariel Horowitz, violin; Lun Li, violin; Edwin Kaplan, viola; Titilayo Ayangade, cello; and Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, piano. Ariel Horowitz is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Music, and recently won the Concert Artists Guild Ambassador Prize. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Heartbeat Music Project, a tuition-free program providing instruments, music, and Navajo (Diné) cultural knowledge to young people in grades K-12 living in the Navajo Nation. A native of Shanghai, China, violinist Lun Li won First Prize in the 2021 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society Prize, and is a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. Edwin Kaplan is the violist of the award-winning Tesla Quartet. Among his most cherished projects is the Tesla Quartet's annual call for scores, where he meticulously evaluates and selects from the many compositions submitted by composers worldwide. With cellist Titilayo Ayangade, he performs as Duo Kayo. Titilayo Ayangade has spent over two decades behind her instrument, performing in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and commissioning new music. She holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati-CCM and the University of Texas at Austin, and has also worked closely with members of the Artemis Quartet. Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner was selected as a winner of the Concert Artists Guild 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition and has been distinguished as a Gilmore Young Artist, an honor awarded to the most promising American pianists of the new generation.
2023 Newport Classical Music Festival Concerts:
The 2023 Newport Classical Music Festival kicks off on Tuesday, July 4 at 7:30pm with a free, outdoor Fourth of July Patriotic Pops concert preceding the fireworks at King Park featuring Fenway Quintet, one of Boston’s most esteemed professional brass quintets. This concert is part of the 2023 BankNewport Community Concert Series.
On Wednesday, July 5 at 6pm, Sinta Quartet presents a Saxophone Soirée outdoors in the beautiful private gardens of Bellevue House, featuring chamber music steeped in lively folk traditions, as well as a catalog of traditional music from around the globe by a wide range of composers including Bela Fleck, Mark O’Connor, Jay Unger, Ligeti, and Dvořák.
Newport Classical Music Festival’s Opening Night concert on Thursday, July 6 at 8pm at The Breakers features GRAMMY-nominated pianist Simone Dinnerstein, described as “an artist of strikingly original ideas and irrefutable integrity” by The Washington Post. Her passionate and nuanced program features music from her 2022 album Undersong, the third in a trilogy of albums she recorded at home during the pandemic. Dinnerstein says, “Undersong is an archaic term for a song with a refrain, and to me it also suggests a hidden text. Glass, Schumann, Couperin, and Satie all seem to be attempting to find what they want to say through repetition, as though their constant change and recycling will focus the ear and the mind. This time has been one of reflection and reconsidering for many of us, and this music speaks to the process of revisiting and searching for the meaning beneath the notes of the undersong.”
On Friday, July 7 at 8pm, the Aizuri Quartet performs at The Breakers. Praised by The Washington Post for “astounding” and “captivating” performances that draw from a notable “meld of intellect, technique and emotions,” the infectiously energetic Aizuri Quartet brings together their own four distinctive musical personalities, tracing a journey from darkness to dawn, and culminating in the warmth of Haydn’s “Sunrise” Quartet. This program explores the ways in which the atmosphere, psychological power, and political metaphor of the night have been an inspiration for composers from the classical era to the present-day, and in addition to Haydn includes music by Clara Schumann, Bartók, and Robert Schumann.
The Minnesotan low-voice ensemble Cantus takes the stage at The Breakers on Saturday, July 8 at 8pm. Cantus has developed a national following for their trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming, and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. In this program, Cantus explores the challenges of connecting in our modern age by pairing works by Sibelius and Saint-Saëns with compositions from contemporary luminaries including Andrea Ramsey, David Lang, Christopher H. Harris, Cam Butler, Ingrid Michaelson, Simon & Garfunkel, and more.
On Sunday, July 9 at 9am, the day begins with Strings in Nature, a morning performance by the Newport Classical Festival Artists at Norman Bird Sanctuary, taking audience members on a journey through touchpoints between music and nature, anchored by a string quartet reduction of Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony that explores themes from Britten’s childhood memories.
That evening at 8pm, Newport Classical presents Opera Night: Così fan tutte at The Breakers in a bold and unforgettable un-staged production of Mozart's 1790 Italian opera buffa. Featuring six quickly emerging operatic stars – soprano Maria Valdes (Fiordiligi); mezzo-soprano Leah Heater (Dorabella); baritone Armando Contreras (Guglielmo); tenor David Blalock (Ferrando); bass-baritone James Demler (Don Alfonso); and soprano Victoria Okafor (Despina). Under the musical direction of acclaimed pianist Charles Kim, and reimagined by Newport Classical’s own Trevor S. Neal, this beloved opera, sung in gossamer Italian, is a probing look into romantic relationships through the collaborative genius of Mozart and his brilliant librettist, Da Ponte.
On Tuesday, July 11 at 4pm at Newport Art Museum, internationally renowned Israeli cellist Amit Peled presents his program American Landscapes. Peled is acclaimed as one of the most exciting and virtuosic instrumentalists on the concert stage today. His performances have been justly described as “fiery and intelligent” by The Strad magazine and full of “glowing tone” by The New York Times. Joined by longtime musical collaborator pianist Solomon Eichner, this program explores music by pioneering American composers including Florence Price, George Gerswhin, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and George David Weiss. Peled will also present a free conversation and performance at 11am that day at Temple Shalom entitled “Journey with my Jewishness.”
On Wednesday, July 12 at 11am at The Elms, flutist Anthony Trionfo, whose playing has been called “breezily virtuosic” (The New York Times), joins the Festival Artists for a delightful morning concert featuring chamber masterworks for flute, strings, and piano, including the first of Mozart’s flute quartets; Friedrich Kuhlau’s last and possibly greatest composition Grand Trio; French composer Louise Farrenc’s trio for flute, cello and piano; and other works by rarely heard composers of the late-Classical and early Romantic periods.
That evening at 8pm, Zlatomir Fung performs the Bach Cello Suites at The Breakers. Bach's six Cello Suites are among the most extraordinary and iconic works ever written for cello. Each piece resonates with its own unique characteristics and sonority. This is a rare opportunity to hear the full collection performed in its entirety by one of the preeminent cellists of our time. Zlatomir Fung is the youngest musician ever to win First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition Cello Division. His impeccable technique demonstrates his mastery of the canon.
On Thursday, July 13 at 11am at The Elms, the Festival Artists explore the famous feud between Brahms and Liszt, in which both sought to build upon their own legacies to match that of the great Mozart, in Classical Rivalries, a program featuring music by all three legendary composers.
That evening at 8pm, the singular pianist Hélène Grimaud performs at The Breakers. Grimaud is known around the globe for her fierce intelligence, fearless interpretations, and sincere freedom of expression. In this characteristically thoughtful program, her long-anticipated debut as a Newport Classical recitalist, she approaches each work with deep respect as well as individual artistry. Her program includes Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109; Brahms’s Three Intermezzi for piano, Op. 117 and 7 Fantasien, Op.116; and J.S. Bach’s Chaconne from Violin Partita No.2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (arr. Busoni).
On Friday, July 14, the day begins early with a 5:15am Sunrise Meditations concert at Chinese Tea House. Experience an unforgettable sunrise over Newport’s iconic Cliff Walk through this whimsical and inspiring morning concert with the Festival Artists. Music by Vieutemps, Mozart, Bologne, Rolla, and Schubert, introspective in nature and written for different string configurations, makes for a meditative and uplifting start to the day.
That evening at 8pm, charismatic Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing performs at The Breakers. Hemsing is one of the leading young violinists of our time. At Newport Classical, she returns to her roots as a specialist of the music of Edvard Grieg, opening this imaginative program with his Sonata for violin and piano No. 2. Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, a Festival Artist and “gifted virtuoso” (San Francisco Chronicle), joins Hemsing on the piano for this astonishing recital program which also includes music by Jacob Shea, Fauré, and Ravel. In partnership with NewportFILM, on July 13 Hemsing will deliver a post-screening artist talk, following a showing of the documentary film Forte which features her. This free screening will be part of NewportFILM’s outdoor summer programming, with more details to come.
On Saturday, July 15 at 3pm, the Festival Artists Fanfare will be an invigorating afternoon concert at Emmanuel Church, where the stunning English Gothic Revival architecture shapes an enveloping acoustic experience. This program, featuring music by Mozart, Debussy, Dohnanyi, and Rebecca Clarke, highlights the solo and virtuosic capabilities of these talented emerging artists – and concludes with Frank Bridge’s Phantasy for Piano Quartet, which is credited with catapulting Bridge’s career. All ticket sales for this performance will go toward supporting Emmanuel Church and the vibrant community who gather here.
That evening at 8pm at The Breakers, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, under the musical direction of Richard Egarr in his second season as Music Director, offers a thoughtful program of Handel and Biber performed entirely on period instruments. This program also features the East Coast premiere of a new work by Mason Bates, which the composer describes as “a dreamy and lyrical mediation on the interesting connection between Baroque performance practice and early bluegrass.” Considered the most versatile ensemble of its kind, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is recognized as “America’s leading historically informed ensemble” (The New York Times).
On Sunday, July 16 at 8pm, the Hermitage Piano Trio presents a Rachmaninoff 150th Birthday Celebration at The Breakers. Now entering their second decade, the United States-based Hermitage Piano Trio has solidified its place as one of the world’s leading piano trios, garnering multiple GRAMMY Award nominations, audience raves, and high press accolades for their performances. The Washington Post has singled them out for playing with “such power and sweeping passion that it left you nearly out of breath.” Hermitage Piano Trio has assembled this program in celebration of Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday, pairing his second piano trio with works by three composers – Josef Suk, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Amy Beach – who each drew inspiration from the prolific composer.
On Tuesday, July 18 at 11am at Blithewold Mansion, Newport Classical’s Festival Artists present a morning concert exploring the Great American Songbook. The Great American Songbook is to American music what the complete works of Shakespeare are to English literature: an indispensable and crucial foundation for a unique and sophisticated art form. Composers and lyricists such as George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers with Lorenz Hart, and the inimitable Cole Porter created a formidable repertoire of songs for Broadway stage musicals and Hollywood movies. These subsequently became the bedrock of singers and instrumentalists in jazz’s golden age. Newport Classical’s Festival Artists embark on a grand instrumental journey featuring eloquent break-up ballads, wistful reveries, and exultant celebrations of love and romance.
That evening at 7:30pm at Castle Hill Inn, internationally award-winning pianist Charlie Albright performs Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, on a program exploring the full range of piano repertoire, from the core canon to classical improvisations on popular works of today – all set next to Castle Hill's magical seaside vistas. The concert will include Beethoven’s “Tempest” Sonata No. 17 in D minor; Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring; and a live improvised sonata created on the spot by Albright based on notes from the audience. Albright has quickly become a Newport Classical Music Festival favorite for his ability to bring music to everyone, connecting with audiences through his music, speaking, and his uniquely playful approach to concerts.
On Wednesday, July 19 at 11am at The Elms, mezzo-soprano Heather Gallagher and baritone Joseph Parrish join the Festival Artists in presenting Classical Lieder, an enchanting morning of art song and Lieder. Director of Artistic Planning Trevor Neal has curated an intriguing recital program of songs composed in the nearly forty years between 1888 and 1922. His selections highlight the changing styles of music that emanated from four important centers of music-making: from Vienna, the voice of the Hugo Wolf, known as the aesthetic adversary to the traditionalist Brahms; from France, varied sound-pictures of Faure; from Italy, the genius of the often-overlooked Respighi; and from the UK, the imagination and sensitivity of Gerald Finzi.
On Wednesday, July 19 and Thursday, July 20 at 8pm, Newport Classical presents An Evening with Kelli O'Hara at The Breakers, a spectacular night with stage and screen star Kelli O’Hara, one of Broadway and Opera’s greatest leading ladies. Her portrayal of Anna Loenowens in The King and I garnered her a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. In 2015, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Lehar’s The Merry Widow opposite Renee Fleming and returned as Despina in Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte and Laura Brown in Kevin Puts’s The Hours. O’Hara received an Emmy nomination for her work as Katie Bonner in The Accidental Wolf and can currently be seen starring alongside Christina Baranski and Cynthia Nixon in HBO’s series The Gilded Age. O’Hara now returns to The Breakers for a vocal recital celebrating her illustrious and varied career, with pianist Dan Lipton.
On Friday, July 21, the day begins with a Sunrise Meditations concert at 5:15am at Chinese Tea House. As the sun rises over the Atlantic, the Newport Classical Festival Artists welcome the day with a program of meditative musical poetics. This program explores the spaces in which we gather: physically, mentally, and spiritually. These selections highlight composers from historically underrepresented communities and from the indigenous diaspora. Alexis Roland-Manuel references baroque dance style; Paul Wiancko fuses traditional Appalachian music with Japanese folk song. Lei Liang’s Gobi Canticle grew out of the composer’s interest in Mongolian music. The traditional Catalan carol The Song of the Birds was made famous by cellist Pablo Casals when he performed it as a plea for peace upon receiving the United Nations Peace Medal in 1971. Korngold’s String Quartet No. 2 closes the program with impressionistic touches, evoking waltzes, and the musical lightness of Vienna.
That evening at 8pm, Newport Classical presents Concert and Cocktails: A Musical Soirée with Anthony McGill and Anna Polonsky at Redwood Library and Athenæum. Clarinetist Anthony McGill is one of classical music’s most recognizable and brilliantly multifaceted figures. In addition to holding the Principal Clarinet chair at the New York Philharmonic, McGill enjoys an equally impressive international solo and chamber music career. His program includes music by Amanda Harberg, Aaron Copland, Adolphus Hailstork, and more. During the special extended intermission reception, explore the Library while enjoying cocktails and an array of hors d’oeuvres.
In the afternoon on Saturday, July 22 at 2pm at Colony House, Newport Classical presents Excelsis Percussion Quartet. The New York City-based quartet is an international and multilingual group of women who speak the universal language of rhythm, rooted in their belief that music possesses an ability to unite us all. They have been hailed by timpanist Jonathan Haas as "one of the most innovative and exciting percussion ensembles to emerge in the golden age of chamber music" for their immersive sound world. Excelsis infuses vibrancy and new energy into the percussion community through eclectic programming, innovative storytelling, and embracing their intersectional identities. Their program includes music by Daniel Levitan, Eric Whitacre, Owen Clayton Condon, Rüdiger Pawassar, Yaz Lancaster, and Vanessa Thomlinson.
That evening at 8pm, the Festival Artists Finale at The Breakers will feature the world premiere of The Gilded Cage, a new work by three-time GRAMMY-nominated violinist/composer Curtis Stewart, commissioned by Newport Classical. Stewart’s piece is inspired by his father’s time living in Newport and growing up within the Baptist AME church, as well as the history of The Breakers and the Newport residents who have taken care of the space over its many years. The program, curated by Stewart, also features a thrilling selection of piano quintets by Schumann, Bruch, and Shostakovich.
The 2023 Newport Classical Music Festival concludes on July 23 at 8pm with The Knights perform Appalachian Spring at The Breakers. The Knights, led by brothers Eric Jacobsen (artistic director and conductor) and Colin Jacobsen (artistic director and violinist) are a New York-based orchestral collective of adventurous musicians dedicated to transforming the concert experience and eliminating barriers between audiences and music. Members bring a range of cultural influences to the group, from baroque and classical performance practice, to jazz and klezmer genres, to pop and indie rock. Driven by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie and exploration, The Knights inspire listeners with vibrant programs that honor the classical tradition alongside their passion for artistic discovery. Their program at The Breakers includes Vivaldi’s Flute Concerto featuring flutist Alex Sopp, Anna Clyne’s Prince of Clouds, Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances featuring violinist Alex Gonzalez, Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, and Colin Jacoben’s A Shadow Under Every Light.
For the full schedule, visit: www.newportclassical.org/music-festival
About Newport Classical
Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.
Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc. and previously known as Newport Music Festival (NMF), Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity presenting the American debuts of over 130 international artists and rarely heard works and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. The organization has produced more than 2,000 concerts and hosted more than 1,000 musicians and singers. In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music.
Newport Classical is proud to be an essential pillar of New England’s cultural landscape, and to invest in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form. Newport Classical’s four core programming initiatives – the iconic summer Music Festival taking place across Newport; the year-round Chamber Series at the organization’s home base Newport Classical Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church in downtown Newport; the free family-friendly Community Concerts held in green spaces around Aquidneck Island; and its newly expanded Music Engagement Initiative program – illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.”
Photo credits:
Aizuri Quartet by Shervin Lainez, Amit Peled by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco, Anthony McGill by Todd Rosenberg, Cantus by Nathan Ryan, Charlie Albright courtesy photo, Curtis Stewart by Marilena Arvelo, Eldbjørg Hemsing by Gregor Hohenberg, Excelsis Percussion Quartet courtesy photo, Hélène Grimaud by Mat Henneck, Hermitage Trio by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco, Kelli O'Hara courtesy of Polk & Co., Philharmonia Baroque by Frank Wing, Simone Dinnerstein by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco, Sinta Quartet courtesy of General Arts Touring, The Knights by Shervin Lainez, Zlatomir Fung by I-Jung Huang
Newport Classical concert photos by Lisette Rooney.