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Upcoming Events
Grand Opening: Otherworldly Schubert and “One Earth”
Tamar Muskal’s twice-postponed work will receive its long-awaited world premiere, kicking off the new season with a musical adventure. In the words of the composer, “We live in a very […]
Find out more »Grand Piano Trios—Beethoven’s “Ghost” and “Archduke”
A virtual symphony for three musicians, expansive and noble—like the Austrian Archduke who was the dedicatee—the great “Archduke” is more than a trio. It offered Beethoven the perfect vehicle for […]
Find out more »Town & Country—Mendelssohn and Dvorak
Glittering cosmopolitan Berlin and the village of Nelahozeves, Bohemia (now Czech Republic, population 2,200) are the respective places of origin of Felix Mendelssohn and Antonin Dvorak. Mendelssohn’s Trio in C […]
Find out more »“Pictures at an Exhibition”— A Gallery Stroll
A work in ten movements by Modest Mussorgsky that was inspired by a visit to an art exhibition, "Pictures at an Exhibition" is a showpiece where only the most virtuosic […]
Find out more »From Bach Brandenburg to Appalachian Spring with Manhattan Chamber Players
Bringing a “mellifluous blend of vigorous intensity and dramatic import, performed with enthusiasm, technical facility and impressive balance,” the 13-strong Manhattan Chamber Players make their Close Encounters With Music debut […]
Find out more »What is chamber music?
Chamber music sounds like a lively conversation between a small group of friends – not with words, but with musical notes. The spotlight moves from player to player. Each stands out as an individual with a musical opinion, but their statements weave together into a sublime and lively sound.
In some ways, chamber music is a precursor of jazz; it features the same spontaneity, the give and take of urgent dialogue (as in passing a ball at a sports event), arguments and resolutions, humor and camaraderie.
A concert usually consists of three to eight players, combining different string instruments and often includes a piano, vocalists or winds.
Close Encounters With Music chamber programs are framed in intriguing themes with illuminating introductions to each concert, designed to extend the pleasure of the music itself.
