Yo-Yo Ma News

Canadian fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster returns to Abravanel Hall this weekend, February 21 and 22 for a night of rollicking Celtic, French and Cajun blended tunes inspired by her native Cape Breton heritage.

Yefim Bronfman, the New York Philharmonic's 2013-14 Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, will be spotlighted in a chamber music concert co-presented with 92nd Street Y. Mr. Bronfman will be joined by Philharmonic Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow; Principal Clarinet Stephen Williamson; Associate Principal, Second Violin Group, Lisa Kim; Associate Principal Viola Rebecca Young; and cellist Maria Kitsopoulos for the program, featuring Schubert's Sonatina in A minor; Bartok's Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano; and Brahms's Piano Quintet, Sunday, March 30, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. at 92nd Street Y.

On Friday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Weill Recital Hall, violinist Pamela Frank, violist Nobuko Imai, and cellist Clemens Hagen perform Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, arranged for strings by Dmitry Sitkovetsky. Originally composed for harpsichord Bach's work takes listeners on an aural journey through 30 variations of a single aria in an array of styles and forms. Named after harpsichordist, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, the probable first performer, this work remains a monument of virtuosity, now given a refreshing update in this singular arrangement for strings.

On Saturday, April 5 at 9:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, guitarist Romero Lubambo, bassist Nilson Matta, and drummer Duduka da Fonseca-the three renowned Brazilian musicians that make up Trio da Paz-perform a program featuring the works of famed Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and celebrated American tenor saxophonist Stan Getz. The trio, known for its innovative take on Brazilian jazz, is joined for this program by tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and vocalist Maucha Adnet. This concert is presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Absolutely Live Entertainment LLC.

CapLive and the historic Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in downtown York welcome The Lone Bellow, with Special Guest Aoife O'Donovan, to the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, April 3, at 8:00 p.m. The Lone Bellow is the newest addition to CapLive's eclectic 2013-14 season lineup of nationally-known acts and up-and-coming performers. Tickets go on sale to the general public today, Feb. 18 at 10:00 a.m.

CapLive and the historic Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in downtown York welcome The Lone Bellow, with Special Guest Aoife O'Donovan, to the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, April 3, at 8:00 p.m. The Lone Bellow is the newest addition to CapLive's eclectic 2013-14 season lineup of nationally-known acts and up-and-coming performers. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 10:00 a.m.

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced the 2014 Blossom Music Festival season. The Festival comprises 18 concerts - including 15 by The Cleveland Orchestra, two Blossom Festival Band concerts, and one concert by the Blossom Festival Orchestra - at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park from July 3 - August 31.

Canadian fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster returns to Abravanel Hall on February 21 and 22 for a night of rollicking Celtic, French and Cajun blended tunes inspired by her native Cape Breton heritage.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera today announced their 2014/15 season, led by Music Director Kayoko Dan in her fourth season. The regular concert season will begin in September 2014 and go through April 2015. "The 2014-15 season should be one of the most memorable in the CSO's history," stated CSO Executive Director Molly Sasse. "The opportunity to perform with world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma is just the beginning. Our Masterworks concerts offer a great mix of beloved works and lesser-known masterpieces, with more great soloists. Our Pops concerts will have something for everyone, from the film classic, Casablanca to Broadway hits. We're so pleased to continue our concerts at the Volkswagen Conference Center and our chamber orchestra programs at the Silver Ballroom of the Sheraton Read House. There's great variety in the music and the settings across all of our series, and I hope audiences will try something that might be new to them this year."

Due to the sudden death of guest vocalist Alexei Mochalov's wife, tonight's February 7 program of Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica at the Harris Theater has been changed. Mieczyslaw Weinberg's Concertino, Op. 42 and Benjamin Britten's Young Apollo, Op. 16 replaces the previously scheduled Antiformalist Rayok by Dmitri Shostakovich and Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10. With the addition of Concertino, Op. 42, audience members will have the extraordinary opportunity to hear two works featuring violinist Gidon Kremer. Kremer also leads Kremerata Baltica in Weinberg's Symphony No.10 for strings, Op.98, appearing onstage in three of the evening's four works.

Two jazz aficionados who know a thing or two about sports - two athletes who know their jazz? - are front and center on Sunday, March 2 when Christian McBride Presents ... Jazz Meets Sports in NJPAC's Victoria Theater. NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former Yankee Bernie Williams - a Latin Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist - will be joined by a trio led by NJPAC Jazz Advisor, bassist and Eagles fan Christian McBride. Music and memories will ensue.

Due to the sudden death of guest vocalist Alexei Mochalov's wife, the Friday, February 7 program of Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica at the Harris Theater has been changed. Mieczyslaw Weinberg's Concertino, Op. 42 and Benjamin Britten's Young Apollo, Op. 16 replaces the previously scheduled Antiformalist Rayok by Dmitri Shostakovich and Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10. With the addition of Concertino, Op. 42, audience members will have the extraordinary opportunity to hear two works featuring violinist Gidon Kremer. Kremer also leads Kremerata Baltica in Weinberg's Symphony No.10 for strings, Op.98, appearing onstage in three of the evening's four works.

Arnold Steinhardt, acclaimed first violin of the illustrious Guarneri Quartet, joins the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) for its WESTSIDE CONNECTIONS chamber music series launch on Thursday, February 13, 2014, 7:30 pm, at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica. The three-part series, with 'LA Influential' as this year's thematic twist, examines the impact our diverse city has had on arts and culture through the eyes of distinguished guest artists and speakers. LACO Concertmaster and series curator Margaret Batjer has programmed evenings that showcase the virtuosic artistry of LACO musicians in chamber masterpieces, reflecting the compelling LA connections and inspirations that have deeply influenced the special guests, who in addition to Steinhart, include Culture Clash satirist/comedian Richard Montoya and actor/director/composer John Rubinstein.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Music Director Riccardo Muti and Deborah F. Rutter, president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA), announce the programming for the CSO and Symphony Center Presents (SCP) 2014/15 season—the Orchestra's 124th season and Maestro Muti's fifth season as music director. Next season, Maestro Muti leads ten weeks of subscription concerts in four residencies with the Orchestra in Chicago, with appearances in September/October, January, February/March and June. In addition, he leads the Orchestra on a three- week tour of Europe in October and November, and in three performances at Carnegie Hall in January.

Lincoln Center has announced its February 2014 lineup, including the American Songbook series with Michael John LaChiusa, Jessica Molaskey, and more, as well as Great Performers' 'Art Song on Film', Target Free Thursdays and Meet the Artist Todays. Details below!

Perhaps the greatest disservice ever done to English music was its dismissal by the modernist composer Elizabeth Lutyens as 'cowpat music'. That statement was a hangover of a common perception from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century that, despite the country's power and reputation, it wasn't actually very good at producing interesting music. But World War One marked the beginning of a new explosion of creative energy, one that saw exciting modern composers pour into England's concert halls, reaching across the sea to America, even to Hollywood. 'This England' from Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra brings this England to Carnegie Hall.

Celebrity Series of Boston has announced its upcoming performances for March 2014. Check them out below!

Riccardo Muti, the preeminent conductor and the music director of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, returns to Chicago in late January for two weeks of CSO subscription programs. Concerts with Maestro Muti begin tonight, January 30 at 8 p.m. and continue on January 31 and February 1.

Join the American Classical Orchestra for HANDELFEST, the first festival event from ACO that celebrates the music of Handel during the month of March. The festivities get under way with a family-friendly concert at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament (152 W 71st St) featuring some of Handel's most uplifting works. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 212-362-2727.

DIRECT FROM BUENOS AIRES The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts presentsTANGO LEGENDS One Night Performance includes Post-Show Milonga!