Performing Arts Series

Perennial favorite, cellist Sophie Shao, opens our 106th season with an accomplished, all-female ensemble. Shao is joined by violinist Carmit Zori and pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute to perform selections from François Couperin’s Five Concert Pieces for Cello & Piano, as a nod to the Museum of Art’s “Le Petit Salon” exhibition. Additional works include Amy Beach’s Piano Trio, the Vermont premiere of Elena Ruehr’s second Cello Sonata, and Dvorák’s F Minor Piano Trio.

About the Artists: 

The forgotten story of Mozart’s genius sister. This award-winning play written and performed by Sylvia Milo tells the true story of Nannerl Mozart, the sister of Amadeus. She was a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso, and composer who performed throughout Europe with her brother, to equal acclaim—but her work and her story faded away, lost to history.

Dreamers’ Circus is one of the most acclaimed and adventurous acoustic bands from the Nordic region. This Middlebury favorite seamlessly blends Nordic folk with classical lyricism, jazz improvisation, and pop energy, creating a sound that is both rooted in tradition and forward-looking. The trio’s latest album, “Handed On,” reflects on their musical heritage, while their dynamic live shows showcase the playful joy and precision that define their unique sound.

Friction is a genre-breaking sound world brought to life in this Vermont premiere by composer and flutist Allison Loggins-Hull, in collaboration with the two-time GRAMMY-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. This debut collaboration weaves a striking tapestry of songs, composed by Loggins-Hull, delving into the intricate dance between the forces that shape us. Those forces—our influences, inheritances, relationships—like friction itself, generate both light and heat, and have the capacity to reveal our greatest strengths and most closely held flaws.

Learn more about this concert’s music in a free pre-concert lecture by Professor Emeritus of Music Larry Hamberlin.

We’re thrilled to welcome back our long-time friends, the Takács Quartet—celebrating their 50th anniversary season—for their 31st Middlebury performance since 1994. The Grammy and three-time Gramophone award-winning quartet will perform the Vermont premiere of Clarice Assad’s NEXUS, of which the series is honored to be a co-commissioner. The Takács rounds out their program with luminous quartets by Haydn and Debussy.

Rising star jazz pianist Isaiah J. Thompson makes his Middlebury debut with “A Guaraldi Holiday,” which promises to start your December in a swinging mood. Thompson will highlight the works of composer/pianist Vince Guaraldi, who introduced generations to jazz through his Peanuts cartoon-accompanying scores. Guaraldi’s works are in good hands with Thompson, who’s already been named a Steinway artist, and is the winner of the 2023 American Pianists Association Awards, as well as their Cole Porter Fellow in Jazz.

Don’t miss the Vermont debut of this wholly original music duo featuring classically-trained, composing pianist Nahre Sol (who’s amassed over 75 million views on her YouTube channel) and internationally recognized, composing bassist Ben Finley. Sol and Finley’s music draws from their diverse musical influences, from chamber music to ambient soundscapes, improvisation, and more. Expect to hear solo and duo music (both familiar and original) that’s playful, colourful, agile, emotional, and picturesque between the bass and piano.

Learn more about this concert’s music in a free pre-concert lecture by Professor Emeritus of Music Larry Hamberlin.

Winners of a 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Isidore String Quartet was formed with a vision to revisit, rediscover, and reinvigorate the repertory. After energizing a packed Robison Hall during their Middlebury debut last season, we’re thrilled to welcome them back with the world premiere of composer/pianist Billy Childs’ Quartet No. 4, written expressly for them. This new quartet will be paired with works by Haydn, Webern, and Mendelssohn.

Fusing butoh dance theater, hip-hop mixology, new music, and multimedia, the Vermont premiere of time/life/beauty by Michael Sakamoto and Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) is inspired by the legacy of famed composer-musician and activist Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952–2023). Inspired by the variety and mystery of Ryuichi’s music, interdisciplinary collaborations, and environmental and anti-war commitments, time/life/beauty looks at the past, present, and future of acute cultural, social, and ecological themes in our historical moment.

Fusing butoh dance theater, hip-hop mixology, new music, and multimedia, the Vermont premiere of time/life/beauty by Michael Sakamoto and Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) is inspired by the legacy of famed composer-musician and activist Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952–2023). Inspired by the variety and mystery of Ryuichi’s music, interdisciplinary collaborations, and environmental and anti-war commitments, time/life/beauty looks at the past, present, and future of acute cultural, social, and ecological themes in our historical moment.

This world-class baroque chamber ensemble follows up on its beloved 2024 series debut with a free concert inviting us to the baroque era, in which the trio Sonata was the most popular chamber music formation.  “A trio sonata soirée” will spotlight examples by famous composers such as Bach and Telemann, alongside some unjustly neglected Baroque masters, illustrating the immense expressive range and creativity of this repertoire.

Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the award-winning Celtic quintet Goitse (a Gaelic word for “come here,” pronounced “Go-wit-cha”). Named Live Ireland’s “Traditional Group of the Year” and Chicago Irish American News’ “Group of the Year,” Goitse is leading the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles. Their distinctive sound lies in the quality of their original compositions, interspersed with age-old traditional tunes, making each performance unique.

We close our 105th season with the dynamic duo of violinist Alina Ibragimova and pianist Cédric Tiberghien. The two developed a tremendous rapport during their term as individual BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists, where their unique partnership was observed by The Times of London: “Both of these players have the potential to conquer the world.” During this Middlebury return, Ibragimova and Tiberghien will play Janácek, Enescu, Gerald Barry’s vivacious Triorchic Blues, and Beethoven’s iconic “Kreutzer” sonata.

Learn more about this concert’s music in a free pre-concert lecture by Professor Emeritus of Music Larry Hamberlin.

Faculty musicians from the Music Institute of Long Island (MILI) treat us to an evening of chamber music including Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Turina, Mendelssohn, and more!  Established in 1990, MILI is a classical music school staffed by exceptional instructors from many of the most prestigious conservatories and graduate music schools in the United States and Europe. This performance is the culminating event of their current Rothrock Residency working with Middlebury students.

About the Artists: