We kick off the Tenth Anniversary Season with the WWCMF debut of pianist, Henry Kramer. From the sparkling classicism of Haydn to the rapturous harmonies of Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso, this recital promises electricity. Henry will also perform works by modern master Gyorgi Ligeti and Spanish hero, Isaac Albéniz. The New York Timeshas called Henry’s performances “triumphant” and “thrilling.” You do not want to miss this opportunity to get to know one of the finest up-and-coming artists of our time. WWCMF Founder and Artistic Director, Timothy Christie, will moderate the evening’s festivities.

WWCMF acknowledges the generous support of the Walla Walla Piano Group in providing the Steinway Model B piano for this performance. Bravo, and thank you!

All selections will be announced from the stage.

Artist: Henry Kramer, piano

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Larry and Sharon Clinton; and Rick and Cecile Ervin.

Count ’em, 84 string quartets. What’s more, they are all good. Joseph Haydn is known for many things: longevity, business savvy, kindness to his peers, prolific output, and limitless invention. He composed extensively in all genres sacred and secular. Masses, operas, symphonies, oratorios, concertos and sonatas form only a partial list.

Through the execution of his duties to the noble Esterhazy family in Hungary, Haydn invented modern chamber music as we know it. This evening we will explore a tiny sliver of the 84 string quartets Haydn composed, and investigate works by later composers who extended his legacy through pioneering the medium of the string quartet. We will also challenge pioneering mixologist Jim German to craft 84 suitable cocktails for the occasion, each with no more than four ingredients… A new body of quartets altogether!

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Christina McGann, violin;  Stephen Miahky, violin; Philip Payton, violin; Maria Sampen, viola; Sally Singer Tuttle, cello; and MingHuan Xu, violin.

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Dick and Julie Swenson.

Festival Series 2 features two Classical Era masterpieces. One, by Haydn, is known by the loftiest of monikers, “The Emperor.” The other, by Mozart, is known by a somewhat more pedestrian nickname, “Kegelstatt.” Not up on your German? Kegelstatt is the eighteenth century version of a bowling alley. These two nicknamed works could be seen as emblematic of the two composers who penned them.

Haydn, ever known by his compositional wit, was at ease among the upper classes, enjoying patronage and success in business. Mozart, ever known by his sophomoric wit, had difficulty with authority and died in poverty. The two composers were great friends and mutually admired each other’s work. Festival Series 2 will showcase the mastery of both.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

TRIO IN E FLAT FOR PIANO, VIOLA AND CLARINET, K. 498 “KEGELSTATT”

I. Andante
II. Menuetto
III. Allegretto

Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

KNOXVILLE: SUMMER OF 1915, OP. 24

Intermission

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

STRING QUARTET OP. 76, NO. 3 “EMPEROR”

I. Allegro
II. Poco adagio; cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegro
IV. Finale. Presto

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Jennifer Goltz, soprano; Andrew Jennings, violin; Norbert Lewandowski, cello; Stephen Miahky, violin; Laura Renz, viola; David Requiro, cello; Maria Sampen, violin; Kevin Schempf, clarinet; Meta Weiss, cello; and Wei-Han Wu, piano.

Tonight’s performance has been made possible by the generosity of Ben and Landra Macy.

Haydn is the undisputed champion of chamber music. His 84 string quartets alone qualify him as such. Tonight, we explore perhaps his most famous quartet, the Emperor. Haydn was a seasoned world traveler. During his visit to England in 1791, he was greatly impressed by the national pride reflected in renditions he heard of God Save the King. In 1797, Haydn decided to emulate what he had encountered in England, composing an anthem Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser or God Save Emperor Franz.

Late in life and in ill health, Haydn sat at his keyboard playing the hymn over and over. In 1922, the hymn was adopted by Germany as its national anthem, and known around the world by the lyrics “Deutschland, Deutschland über Alles.” While associations with the melody and its various texts have changed throughout history, Haydn’s Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3 features as its second movement the music without words, and stands as a stunning example of strophic variation. While the second movement draws plenty of attention, the quartet as a whole shows Haydn to be a master of form, expression and humor.

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

STRING QUARTET OP. 76, NO. 3 “EMPEROR”

I. Allegro
II. Poco adagio; cantabile
III. Menuetto. Allegro
IV. Finale. Presto

Artists: Timothy Christie, viola; Andrew Jennings, violin; Stephen Miahky, violin; and David Requiro, cello.

Adams' Hallelujah Junction and music of Enescu, Mozart and Haydn

Festival Series III brings three centuries of chamber music to the WWCMF stage. From the outer ends of the 20th century are John Adams’ Hallelujah Junction (1998) and George Enescu’s First Rumanian Rhapsody (1901). For the Adams, will pianists Winston Choi and Xak Bjerken rouse the combined 176 hammers of the black and white keys of two pianos into a celebratory chorus of Americana Minimalism? I think not… The Enescu First Rumanian Rhapsody, full of both sentiment and dizzying virtuosity, brings to mind the antics of classic Bugs Bunny.

Balancing these works from the poles of the 20th century are works by Mozart and Haydn. The Mozart Grande Sestetto Concertante is an artful reworking of his famous Sinfonia Concertante K. 364, for violin, viola and orchestra. So deft is the transcription that the jobs of two soloists and full orchestra are carried out by just six musicians, providing an intimacy and accessibility unmatched by the large scale original. Finally, Festival Series III pays homage to the Father of the String Quartet, Franz Joseph Haydn. His Op. 71, No. 2 is a compelling example of both his unmatched elegance and his legendary wit.

Artists: Xak Bjerken, Kevin Casseday, Winston Choi, Timothy Christie, Kevin Krentz, Norbert Lewandowski, Christina McGann, Stephen Miahky, Philip Payton ,Julia Salerno, Maria Sampen and MingHuan Xu.

Haydn String Quartet in D, Op. 71, No. 2

Tasting Music III takes chamber music outdoors at beautiful Walla Walla Vintners. Haydn’s String Quartet in D, Op 71, No. 2 is a wonderful example of a mature work from the composer known as the father of the string quartet. The four musicians who performed WWCMF’s Founding Celebration performance in September of 2007 are reunited in this performance.

Artists: Timothy Christie, Norbert Lewandowski, Stephen Miahky and Maria Sampen

The Icicle Creek Piano Trio performs music by Turina, Haydn, Bach and Ravel. Plus, a world premiere string quartet by Washington composer, Robert Hutchinson

Opening night of the 2010 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival Series! The program begins with the World Premiere of a new String Quartet by Washington composer, Robert Hutchinson. Then, the critically acclaimed Icicle Creek Piano Trio takes to the stage to perform works by Haydn, Turina, Bach and Ravel.

Whether it’s the Baroque poise of Bach’s B Minor Sonata for Violin and Keyboard, the classical charm of Haydn’s Trio in E Major, Hob. XV:28, or the sheer impressionist virtuosity of the Ravel Trio, you will see why the Icicle Creek Piano Trio is one of the rising stars of the classical music world. Their 2009 recording of the Schubert E Flat Trio and the Ravel Trio (Con Brio Recordings) has garnered much praise.

“The playing is warmly considered, meticulous in articulation and blend, and silken in sonority.”

—Gramophone Magazine

This is your one chance to hear the Icicle Creek Piano Trio during the 2010 Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival. Don’t miss it!