PRESS RELEASE |
Media Contact: Sharon Carlson (651) 292-3267 |
The Schubert Club Announces
The Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Sanborn
2010-2011 International Artist Series
Renée Fleming to open The Schubert Club’s International Artist Series
Thomas Quasthoff to return with Genia Kühmeier, Bernarda Fink and Michael Schade for performances of Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes
Tradition of access to quality continues with low-ticket prices
Saint Paul, MN, March 31, 2010 – The Schubert Club, Minnesota’s first arts organization, announces the 2010-11 International Artist Series. The 2010-11 season, the Schubert Club’s 128th, includes the opening recital by iconic soprano, Renée Fleming and her collaborative artist Bradley Moore; the first-ever trumpet recital by Classical Brit 2009 Female Artist of the Year, Alison Balsom, joined by pianist, Richard Bishop; Grammy-Nominated pianist, Yuja Wang; Canadian violinist and MacArthur Genius Award winner, Leila Josefowicz and her collaborative pianist Tamara Stefanovich; and a rarely scheduled performance of Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes by the incredible cast: Genia Kühmeier, Bernard Fink, Michael Schade and Thomas Quasthoff joined by pianists Malcolm Martineau and Justus Zeyen. 128 years young and strong, The Schubert Club continues the tradition of access to the highest quality recital experiences by presenting the world’s greatest for unbelievably low prices. The 2010-11 subscription prices range from $19-$35 per concert, and single ticket prices range from $25-$50 per concert.
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SERIES
Renée Fleming, soprano • Bradley Moore, piano
Thursday, October 7, 2010 8pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
"A voice as warm and rich as a fine single malt"
– The Times of London
From the Met to the Midwest, America’s iconic soprano returns to The Schubert Club to open an unforgettable series. This is her third appearance for The Schubert Club’s International Artist Series; her last appearance was for a sold-out audience in February 2005. Ms. Fleming’s program will include the music of Gustav Mahler.
Alison Balsom, trumpet • Richard Bishop, piano
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 8pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
“Among the spiciest dips on Saturday was the glamorous Alison Balsom...”
– The Times of London
The Classical Brit 2009 Female Artist of the Year performs the first-ever trumpet recital on the International Artist Series. In her Schubert Club debut, Alison Balsom’s program includes the music of Shchedrin, Francaix, Hindemith, Chopin, Bellini, Enescu, de Falla and Gershwin.
Yuja Wang, piano
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 8pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
“A practically superhuman keyboard technique with artistic eloquence that is second to none.”
– San Francisco Chronicle
The Schubert Club presents the prodigious young Grammy-nominee in her debut on the International Artist Series. Chinese pianist, Yuja Wang’s solo piano program will include the music by Scriabin, Schumann and Chopin.
Leila Josefowicz, violin • Tamara Stefanovich, piano
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 8pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
“She’s a hugely physical performer who takes control of the stage, but her muscular tone is underpinned by an arrestingly tender sweetness.”
– The Times of London
A match made in heaven: a MacArthur Genius award winner and a protégée of Pierre-Laurent Aimard join forces to perform music of Brahms, Shostakovich, Messiaen, Tuur and Schubert.
Genia Kühmeier, soprano • Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano
Michael Schade, tenor • Thomas QuastHoff, bass-baritone
Malcolm Martineau, piano • Justus Zeyen, piano
Thursday, April 28, 2011 8pm
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
“...it is the quality of her voice that holds audiences rapt: indescribably beautiful, the sound is reedy and creamy, but with a slight silvery edge that is otherworldly....” – Opera News
“With her lovely multicoloured mezzo voice she takes the direct route to a song’s heart every time.”
– The Times of London
“Michael Schade sang with a firmly centered tone, a refined sense of style and a flair for extracting extra drama from the music. . .” – Opera News
“Quasthoff's performances are vividly imagined and splendidly sung. He characterizes each role with relish . . .” – Gramophone
“Malcolm Martineau, a magician at the piano” – Star Tribune
The Schubert Club presents a program scheduled in only four Cities across the country – six outstanding artists come together to create one truly unique concert experience. An evening of Schumann and Brahms, including the Liebeslieder Waltzes, completes the 2010-11 Schubert Club International Artist Series.
Additional concerts presented by The Schubert Club during the 2010-11 season will be announced later this Spring.
For more program information, please contact The Schubert Club or visit: http://schubert.org/ias
For high resolution photos, please visit: http://schubert.org/pressdownloads
TICKET PRICES
The Schubert Club continues its tradition of access to the highest quality artists with low ticket prices. Enjoy all five concerts for as little as $19 each; subscriptions go on sale immediately. Subscription prices range from $19-$35 per concert, and seats are available in each scale. Single tickets go on sale Fall 2010.
For more ticket information, please call The Schubert Club Box Office at 651.292.3268
or go to schubert.org for more ticket information.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHUBERT CLUB
The Schubert Club was launched on an autumn afternoon late in the year 1882. Marion Ramsey Furness, daughter of Governor Alexander Ramsey, along with some music-loving friends, formed a club they called “The Ladies Musicale,” thus creating Minnesota’s earliest recital-presenting organization. While the first meetings were social gatherings for women who busied themselves with fancy work—with Club members often providing musical counterpoint—concerts, lectures and study groups were soon organized. Before long the name was changed to honor Franz Schubert (who had lived some fifty years before) and the goal to establish a high standard of musical excellence in Saint Paul became their mission. In those early years solo recitals were the immediate major interest for this musical organization, and in 1893 by adding the International Artist Series to its programs, the women began presenting some of the finest artists of the day, beginning with the renowned German pianist Adele Aus der Ohe who played at Ford Music Hall (Fifth and St. Peter Streets) that same year. Before the turn of the century such celebrated artists as Josef Hofmann and Xaver Scharwenka had played recitals in Saint Paul on this Series.
Throughout its history efforts were made to present a very accomplished but lesser known emerging artist among the recitals of the established stars. This policy of what respected Saint Paul music critic John Harvey called “venturesome conservatism” led to the debuts in Saint Paul of Louise Homer in 1902, Vladimir Horowitz in 1928, Isaac Stern in 1943, Leontyne Price in 1961, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in 1955, Mstislav Rostropovich in 1963, and Cecilia Bartoli in 1996.
Today, fresh from completing its 125th celebratory season, The Schubert Club has secured a prominent place in the history of musical organizations. It is one of the oldest arts organizations in the country, predated by, among a very few, the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During its many recital-presenting years, The Schubert Club has brought virtually all of the world’s great recitalists to the Saint Paul stage—Jascha Heifetz, Myra Hess, Artur Rubinstein, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and Bryn Terfel, to name only a few. Several have become special favorites. Vladimir Horowitz, Robert Casadesus, Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma and Beverly Sills have each appeared under its sponsorship four times or more over past decades. Highlights from the twenty-first century include such stellar artists as Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, Alfred Brendel, Lang Lang, and Anne-Sophie Mutter.
The Schubert Club today is flourishing. Because of the continuing devotion of music lovers, concert-goers, friends and foundations, this venerable organization remains strong and competitive, a source of renewal and pride for the Twin Cities classical music community. As we push deeper into the twenty-first century, The Schubert Club reaffirms its mission to promote the art of music—particularly recital music through concert, museum and education programs—and maintain a high standard of excellence.
For more information, please visit schubert.org