Since it was founded in 1972, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival has become one of the world’s preeminent music festivals, guided by a visionary spirit and dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation. Contributing to its magic is the Festival’s unique Santa Fe setting, nestled amid the timeless splendors of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
With legendary cellist Pablo Casals as honorary president, the Festival’s 1973 inaugural season hosted 14 artists performing six Sunday concerts in Santa Fe and additional appearances in other New Mexico and Arizona communities.
Today, under the spirited artistic leadership of composer/pianist Marc Neikrug, the Festival invites scores of distinguished musicians, along with emerging young talent, during its 6-week season. Thousands of enthusiastic patrons young and old return year after year to enjoy the more than 80 concerts, recitals, master classes, youth concerts, and open rehearsals, including an Albuquerque Series that made its debut in 2008. In addition, in the off-season, the Festival reaches out to young people in Santa Fe schools with innovative and inspiring musical adventures.
Veteran WFMT announcer Kerry Frumkin hosts the series along with Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival artistic director, composer Marc Neikrug. Many of the performers provide descriptive commentary about their experiences at the Festival and the music they've played here.
Aug 25:
Vincenzo BELLINI: “Per pieta, bell’idol mio”
Sergei RACHMANINOFF: Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
George Frederic HANDEL: Trio Sonata in G, Op. 5, No. 4, HWV 399
Robert SCHUMANN: Piano Quartet in E-flat, Op. 47
Sept 1:
György LIGETI: Piano Concerto
Antonín DVOŘÁK: String Quartet in F, Op. 96, “American”
Sept 8:
Maurice RAVEL: Gaspard de la nuit
Arnold SCHOENBERG: Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4
Sept 15:
Franz SCHUBERT: Moments musicaux, D. 780
Antonio VIVALDI: Concerto in f, Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297, “L'inverno” (“Winter”) from The Four Seasons, Op. 8
Walter BRAUNFELS: String Quintet in f-sharp, Op. 63
Sept 22:
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von BIBER: Passacaglia from Mystery Sonatas
Johann Sebastian BACH: Sonata in g for Cello and Piano, BWV 1029
Ludwig THUILLE: Sextet for Piano & Winds in B-flat, Op. 6
Sept 29:
Erwin SCHULHOFF: Five Pieces for String Quartet
Claude DEBUSSY: En Blanc et Noir (In White and Black) for Two Pianos
Moritz MOSZKOWSKI: Suite in g for Two Violins and Piano, Op. 71