COLUMBIA, MD– Chamber Music Maryland, formerly known as Candlelight Concert Society, announces the 2024-2025 lineup for its nationally acclaimed chamber music series, featuring nine of the world’s most notable soloists and chamber ensembles.
Season Highlights
Chamber Music Maryland (CMM) is excited for its 52nd concert season under its new name, which promises to be the most vibrant and engaging yet. This year, CMM is thrilled to host an array of outstanding musicians and ensembles, including a vocal ensemble, string quartet next to a solo clarinetist, and a wind quartet.
“This first season as Chamber Music Maryland is set to be our most significant yet” said Bryan Young, President of the organization. Many of the artists on this new season are coming to Chamber Music Maryland (CMM) for the very first time. This season spotlights several concerts featuring talented composers who will perform their works live. This unique and intimate approach allows the composers themselves to take the stage.
Another exciting highlight of the season is a January concert with GRAMMY-winning violinist Jennifer Koh, and GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer Vijay Iyer, who will join together to play original works by Iyer. “Chamber Music Maryland represents well what we’re doing: music played by small ensembles, from a soloist to a chamber orchestra,” said Irina Kaplan Lande, artistic director.
“We present chamber music of all kinds, from very early Renaissance to Baroque to contemporary crossovers.” In addition to these international virtuosi for their mainstage concerts, CMM is excited to present a young talented artist, Michael Yeung, the acclaimed winner of the 2023 Young Concert Artist International Auditions for its third annual Free-For-All concert. This talented percussionist who skillfully navigates the roles of soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer will perform on November 24th, at Smith Theatre, HCC. This concert will be free to attend and the seat reservation opens on October 26, 2024.
Tickets are on sale until June 20th, at www.chambermusicmaryland.org or by calling 410-997-2324. Subscription packages can be purchased for eight-, six-, and four-concert combinations—see below for further details.
Chronological Listing of Concerts
All concerts will take place at Howard Community College (HCC)’s Horowitz Smith Theatre unless otherwise noted.
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, chamber ensemble
Saturday, October 5, 7:30 PM
“An ensemble of first-rate musicians, technically superb, generously expressive, and obviously
enjoying themselves.” -Dallas Morning News
Chamber Music Maryland is thrilled to announce the debut performance of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, a group celebrated for their “splendid playing, impeccable sound, and balance” (Gramophone). The ensemble’s program will feature a poignant exploration of contrasting string works by Dmitri Shostakovich and Edwin Schulhoff, two composers whose careers were deeply influenced by the wars and upheaval of the 20th century. Additionally, the concert will highlight Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings, a vibrant masterpiece crafted when the composer was just 16 years old. This performance promises to be a compelling blend of historical resonance and youthful exuberance.
Program:
Dmitri Shostakovich: Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11
Erwin Schulhoff: Sextet for Strings
Felix Mendelssohn: String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20
Ulysses Quartet with Oskar Espina Ruiz, string quartet and clarinet
Saturday, October 26, 7:30 PM
“The Ulysses Quartet projects that avid enthusiasm we critics immediately fall for” -San Diego Story
Chamber Music Maryland is proud to present the debut performance of the Ulysses Quartet, celebrated for their “textural versatility and grave beauty” (The Strad), alongside the “phenomenal clarinetist” (CVNC), Oskar Espina Ruiz. The evening’s program will pay homage to trailblazing women in music, featuring works by the innovative Caroline Shaw, a distinguished GRAMMY and Pulitzer Prize winner, and the pioneering 19th-century composer Fanny Mendelssohn, who challenged and reshaped the musical conventions of her era. Additionally, the concert will showcase Johannes Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet, a pinnacle of expressive and beautifully crafted music composed during the zenith of his creative powers.
Program:
Caroline Shaw: Plan & Elevation
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel: String Quartet in E-flat major
Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Free-for-All concert, percussion
Sunday, November 24, 4:00 PM
“A little spark that can turn one’s life completely upside down” – Interlude
Chamber Music Maryland (CMM), previously known as Candlelight Concert Society, proudly announces the return of its “Free-for-All” concert for the third consecutive year. This unique initiative offers a free recital that showcases some of the most talented young musicians under the age of 25. This year’s highlight is the acclaimed winner of the 2023 Young Concert Artist International Auditions, percussionist Michael Yeung. Michael continues to refine his considerable skills at the Yale School of Music under the guidance of the esteemed Robert van Sice. Notably, Michael has earned a place in Yale’s prestigious Artist Diploma program for
percussionists, a testament to his extraordinary talent and dedication.
Tickets for this event are free and registration opens on October 27, 2024.
The Tallis Scholars, vocal ensemble
Sunday, December 8, 4:00 PM
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ellicott City
“Voices immaculately balanced and sublimely paced” – BBC Music Magazine
Chamber Music Marylandwelcomes The Tallis Scholars for a traditional Christmas celebration that promises to captivate audiences with the rich vocal traditions of the Renaissance. Often celebrated as “the rock stars of Renaissance vocal music” (The New York Times), The Tallis Scholars, founded by Peter Phillips in 1973, bring their exquisite artistry to this festive season.This special performance will showcase three distinct styles of Gregorian chants from Hildegard of Bingen’s Compositions, first female composer, Living Gregorian Tradition, and Medieval and Modern Adaptations.
Program:
Solo monody: In dulci jubilo v.1
Hieronymous Praetorius: In dulci jubilo vv. 2 and 4
Hildegard von Bingen: Plainchant – In principio omnes
Obrecht: Salve regina
Hildegard von Bingen: Plainchant – O virtus sapientiae
Lassus: Nunc dimittis ‘Il Magnanimo Pietro’
Pärt: Magnificat
Hildegard von Bingen: Plainchant – O ignis spiritus Franco: Salve regina
Pärt: Da pacem
Hildegard von Bingen: Plainchant – O ecclesia Victoria: Salve regina (a 8)
Pearsall: In dulci jubilo
Jennifer Koh with Vijay Iyer, violin and piano/composer
Sunday, January 12, 4:00PM
“She is a tireless champion of new music, but is also a nimble enough artist to hop among
repertory staples and world premieres with stunning ease.” – The New York Times
“There’s probably no frame wide enough to encompass the creative output of the pianist Vijay Iyer.” – The New York Times
Chamber Music Maryland presents an electrifying collaboration between Grammy-winning violinist Jennifer Koh and Grammy-nominated pianist/composer and MacArthur Genius Award recipient Vijay Iyer. The evening will feature a mesmerizing blend of Bach’s beloved works for solo violin alongside dazzling new compositions for violin and piano by Iyer. Jennifer Koh, praised as an “exceptional violinist” by Classics Today, is known for her riveting performances that combine impeccable virtuosity with profound technical prowess. She will join forces with Vijay Iyer, lauded by the New Yorker as an “extravagantly gifted” composer, pianist, and creator, in a showcase of musical genius that is not to be missed.
Program:
Vijay Iyer: Solo and Improvised works
J.S. Bach: Selections from Sonatas and Partitas for solo Violin
Vijay Iyer: The Diamond for Violin and Piano
Vijay Iyer: New duo work TBA
Nicolas Altstaedt with Fazil Say, cello and piano/composer
Saturday, February 1, 7:30 PM
Location: Linehan Hall, UMBC
“The cellist Nicolas Altstaedt is as an artist a category on its own.“
– Hamburger Abendblatt
“Say is the rare musical progressive who also truly understands the past, and engages with it in
an artistically honest way.” – I Care If You Listen
Chamber Music Maryland presents an exceptional musical collaboration between German-French cellist Nicholas Altstaedt and renowned Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say. The duo will perform Say’s masterpiece, Four Cities, a captivating musical journey into Turkish culture that Gramophone Magazine praises as “youthfulness personified, a work the listener will immediately want to hear again.” Acclaimed by The Guardian for his muscular playing and profound artistry, Altstaedt pairs seamlessly with Say, whose brilliant ability to inspire audiences worldwide has garnered significant acclaim. The program will also feature masterworks for cello and piano by Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber, and Johannes Brahms, offering an evening of rich musical exploration.
Program:
Benjamin Britten: Sonata for Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 65
Fazil Say: Sonata for Cello and Piano, “Four Cities”, Op. 41
Samuel Barber: Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 6
Johannes Brahms: Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
Boris Giltburg, piano
Saturday, March 15, 7:30PM
“…He is capable of great surges of energy that characterize the most gifted Rachmaninov
pianists. He communicates with the audience effortlessly” – The Washington Post
Chamber Music Maryland presents Boris Giltburg, the esteemed winner of the 2013 Queen Elisabeth Competition, in a riveting program featuring the works of Rachmaninov, Schumann, and Liszt. A familiar figure on the world stage, Giltburg regularly performs at prestigious venues such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Carnegie Hall. He is celebrated globally for his deep sensitivity, insightful interpretations, and compelling musicality. As a Moscow-born Israeli artist, Giltburg is especially recognized as a leading interpreter of Rachmaninov, equipped with “the singing line [and] great surges of energy that characterize the most gifted Rachmaninov pianists” (The Washington Post). Join us for an unforgettable evening of pianistic brilliance.
Program:
Sergei Rachmaninov: 10 Preludes, Op.23
Robert Schumann: Papillons Op. 2
Franz Liszt: Sonata in B minor
Italian Saxophone Quartet, wind quartet
Sunday, April 6, 4:00PM
“There was musicality to burn-and technique likewise. Intense applause. They could have gone
on playing for us all night.” -La Repubblica, Rome
Chamber Music Maryland celebrates the return of the Italian Saxophone Quartet for a captivating afternoon performance at the Smith Theatre. Known for their fun-filled, festive, and often surprising performances, the Quartet has become a favorite among our audiences. With a rich history spanning over 40 years, the award-winning ISQ has thrilled crowds from New York to Moscow and Athens to Tokyo with their unique sound and infectious charm. The afternoon’s program will span the musical spectrum from the Baroque brilliance of Bach and Handel to the contemporary vibes of Barber, Nyman, and Gershwin. Celebrating the diverse origins and evolutions of Western classical music, this event promises a rich blend of history and harmony delivered in cool Italian style.
Program:
George Frideric Handel : Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, from Solomon
Gioachino Antonio Rossini: Sonata a quattro No.3 in C major
– Allegro
Jean-Baptiste Singelée: Premier Quatuor, Op. 53
– Andante
– Adagio Sostenuto
– Allego Vivace
– Allegretto
Isaac Albéniz: Suite Sevilla Española, Sevilla
Pedro Iturralde
– Suite Hellenique
– Pequeña Czardas
Samuel Barber:
– Adagio for String Quartet, Op.11
Michael Nyman:
– Song for Tony
George Gershwin:
– Selection from Porgy and Bess (Arr. Bill Holcombe)
A Night at the Opera – Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti:
Gioachino Antonio Rossini: Barbiere di Siviglia
Gaetano Donizetti: Elisir D’amore
Giacomo Puccini: Tosca
Giacomo Puccini: Turandot
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano
Sunday, May 11, 4:00PM
“There are few pianists with the recreative fantasy that Bavouzet brings to just about everything he plays.” – GRAMOPHONE
Chamber Music Maryland presents a scintillating end to its season with a performance by multi-award-winning French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. Celebrated as one of the most captivating live performers of his generation, Bavouzet will bring an acclaimed and personal program featuring works by Haydn and Ravel. He will perform selections from his complete album of Haydn’s Sonatas, which Classics Today has lauded as “the best [recording] of this sonata on a modern instrument that exists.” Additionally, Bavouzet will showcase a significant selection of Ravel’s works, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth—an occasion marked by numerous awards from Gramophone Magazine. This concert promises to be a fitting tribute to the French master and a grand finale to our season.
Program:
Joseph Haydn: Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major
Joseph Haydn: Sonata No. 59 in E-flat major
Maurice Ravel: Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn
Maurice Ravel: Valses Nobles
Maurice Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
Ticket Pricing
Subscription Prices
Before June 20: $288 (8 concerts), $216 (6 concerts), $144 (4 concerts)
After June 20: $306 (8 concerts), $230 (6 concerts), $153 (4 concerts)
Accessible seating can be reserved online.
To purchase tickets by phone, please call 410-997-2324.
Venue Locations
Smith Theatre, Horowitz Visual & Performing Arts Center
Campus of Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway Columbia, MD 21044
Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall
Performing Arts and Humanities Building
Campus of University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
1028 Hilltop Road Catonsville, MD 21250
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
3604 Chatham Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042
About Chamber Music Maryland
Chamber Music Maryland (CMM), formerly known as the Candlelight Concert Society, has presented world-class chamber music since 1972, featuring artists from all around the globe. Based in Columbia, Maryland, CMM has received national recognition for its annual chamber music series. In addition, CMM offers programs to spark children’s interest in the performing arts; educational outreach programs to build an audience for the future through performances, lectures, workshops and master classes; and community outreach performances for all Maryland residents unable to attend in a formal concert setting. For more info please visit:
ChamberMusicMaryland.org.
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