Performing Arts Series

Originally scheduled for April of 2020, the Imani Winds and Catalyst Quartet join forces for a special program entitled (im)migration: music of change.

Alumni of the Bowers Program at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Schumann Quartet has been lauded as “one of the most exciting string quartets of the present day” by Fono Forum. Named BBC Music Magazine’s 2016 Best Newcomers of the Year, they make their Middlebury debut with a program including Mendelssohn’s Quartet in A Minor and Ravel’s Quartet in F Major.

Hailed as “one of the best young string quartets’’ by Gramophone, the Doric String Quartet has emerged as a leading British ensemble of its generation.

For information on the Tune-Yards’ Rothrock residency, visit go/tuneyards.

Grammy Award-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner has gained international praise as a pianist, composer, and band leader, and for his collaborative work with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Diane Reeves, Etienne Charles, Cecile McLorin Salvant, John Scofield, and more. In 2019, Fortner earned recognition in multiple DownBeat Critics Poll categories, winning first place in Rising Star Piano and Rising Star Jazz Artist.

Same but Different is a collaborative duet between Middlebury dance faculty Christal Brown and Lida Winfield, exploring their similarities and differences in a cultural commentary on race, age, and gender. 42 years young and recently orphaned, Lida grew up in the North, Christal grew up in the South, both of them grew up inhabiting small towns. Lida is white, Christal is black. As children, Christal was considered a genius and Lida was labeled dumb.

Experience the peerless artistry of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS), with this extraordinary HD concert, featuring archival CMS video recordings of some of Vivaldi’s most beloved concertos and sonatas. In Vivaldi Explosion, an extraordinary assemblage of musicians grace the stage, including Israeli mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital. The broadcast includes a Q & A hosted by Middlebury friends—and chamber music power couple—David Finckel and Wu Han.  

At the end of every calendar year, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center has a tradition of presenting the complete set of six Brandenburg Concertos. It seems only fitting that we air this joyous broadcast at the end of our academic year—in line with Middlebury’s Bach Festival history.  The CMS Front Row program celebrates chamber music at its finest; pulled from CMS’ extensive performance archive and expertly-curated by CMS co-Artistic Directors (and Middlebury friends) David Finckel and Wu Han—who also lead Q&A session with the artists.

The Grammy-nominated Danish String Quartet is among today’s most in-demand chamber music ensembles.The palpable joy with which they perform—paired with their rare musical spontaneity—leaves audiences feeling as if they’re hearing treasured chamber music standards for the first time. Since their sold-out Middlebury debut in 2017, the quartet was named Musical America’s 2020 Ensemble of the Year.

The Middlebury Performing Arts Series opens its Winter 2021 Virtual Season with pianist Gloria Chien—an equally acclaimed performer, concert presenter, and educator. Selected by the Boston Globe as one of its Superior Pianists of the year, Taiwanese-born Chien has performed as a recitalist and chamber musician around the globe, and performs frequently with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as an alumna of its Bowers Program.