From first-ever compositions to familiar favorites, this eye-opening concert featuring violinists Njioma Grevious and Nathan Meltzer highlights pieces that catapulted these composers to stardom.

Witness the fiery energy of young Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Jörg Widmann, capturing the raw drive that propels artistic vision from promise to breakthrough in this program featuring violinists Njioma Grevious and Nathan Meltzer.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers’ sextet of poems from 2013 forms the basis of composer Perry Goldstein’s song cycle, “Birding by Ear.” Baritone Randall Scarlata, admired for his “compelling desire to bring texts to life” (The New York Times), will be joined by the musicians with whom he premiered the work in 2022—violinist Philip Setzer, cellist Paul Watkins, and pianist Gilles Vonsattel. Wenzel Müller’s amusing aria “Ich bin der Schneider Kakadu,” followed by Beethoven’s equally buoyant variations on the song, embrace the avian theme; and the sounds of the woodland are further celebrated in Schubert’s “Die Forelle,” based on the poem by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart, as well as the composer’s subsequent and well-loved “Trout” Quintet. Bassist Nina Bernat joins the ensemble on the final work.

Entitled Poetry in Music, enjoy an outdoor performance featuring Evren Ozel in Napa, CA.

Delight in this Bohemian Rhapsody program featuring Evren Ozel in Rutherford, CA.

An emerging young “ensemble to watch” (Hyde Park Herald), the Poiesis Quartet already has a long list of prizes under their belt, including winning last year’s Concert Artists Guild Competition. The Quartet was lauded as “agile collaborators” with an “extraordinary, honeyed group sound” (Cleveland Classical); for their Austin Chamber Music Festival debut, they’ll be collaborating with violist John Largess and cellist Joshua Gindele from the award-winning Miró Quartet.

Join the renowned Miró Quartet in a thrilling musical collaboration with the prize-winning Poiesis Quartet to perform Felix Mendelssohn’s masterful String Octet. This unique performance showcases the blending of two extraordinary ensembles of established and emerging talent, delivering an exhilarating and richly textured interpretation of one of chamber music’s most beloved works.

Musical transcription—rewriting a piece for different instruments—can breathe new life into familiar works. Mozart is the focus here, as seen through the lens of Beethoven, Schnittke, and even Mozart himself!

Three composers, three great cities, and one unforgettable finale! Taichi Fukumura takes the podium for the final St. Mary’s performance of the summer, leading a program that captures the energy and spirit of the places that inspired it.

Stravinsky’s crisp and playful Dumbarton Oaks channels the vitality of Washington, D.C., with jazz-inflected counterpoint and rhythmic zest. Mozart’s bold “Paris” Symphony follows—a dazzling showpiece designed to impress the city’s sophisticated audiences.

Haydn’s “Oxford” Symphony wraps up the evening with his signature charm and wit—a symphony so masterfully crafted, it was performed when he received an honorary doctorate. No studying required to enjoy this grand finale!

This spirited program celebrates the vibrant world of Baroque chamber music and the close ties between J.S. Bach and Telemann—friends, colleagues, and creative giants. Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe opens with expressive interplay, while Telemann’s Gulliver’s Travels brings Swift’s satire to life through the charm of two violins. His concertos for flute, viola, and oboe d’amore—and for viola alone—highlight his flair for color and invention. C.P.E. Bach, godson of Telemann, brings bold individuality to a trio that bridges generations. 

Performance duration is approximately one hour and twenty minutes. There is no intermission.

This performance is free admission, suggested donation of $10 at the door. No ticket reservation required.  Children under 6 not admitted.   

Please reach out to FCPA with any questions regarding programming details at Foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net

This program traces a path from Classical brilliance to Romantic turmoil. Hummel’s elegant Septet dazzles with its vibrant textures and playful interplay, while Huw Watkins’s Lament explores both the tender and enraging sides of loss. The evening culminates in Brahms’s stormy “Werther” Piano Quartet —a work infused with the emotional intensity of Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, where passion, restraint, and longing collide. Performance duration is approximately one hour and twenty minutes. There is no intermission.

Performance duration is approximately one hour and twenty minutes. There is no intermission.