Phillips Collection: Musicians from the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel
In person: $45 ($25 member)
Stream: $15 ($10 member)
- Gary Hoffman, cello
- Karen Su, violin
- Henry Kramer, piano
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Trio No. 5 in D major, Op. 70, No. 1 "Ghost"
Bedřich Smetana — Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15
Continuing one of our longest-standing partnerships, Phillips Music presents cellist Gary Hoffman, violinist Karen Su, and pianist Henry Kramer in collaboration with the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo, Belgium. Founded in 1939, the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel provides training, performance opportunities, and career guidance to young talents from around the globe. A rarity among training institutions, masters-in-residence at the QEMC such as Hoffman do not just teach and mentor young artists, they perform with them in professional engagements around the world.
The ensemble's program begins with Claude Debussy's coloristic Cello Sonata, the first of six planned sonatas for different combinations of instruments, although only three were ever completed. They continue with Ludwig van Beethoven"s beguiling Piano Trio, Op. 70, No. 1, usually referred to as the "Ghost," a nod to the eerie fluttering figures in the second movement. The group also performs Bedřich Smetana's immensely popular Trio in G minor, Op. 15 (1855), a work born out of great personal tragedy: the death of Smetana's eldest daughter.
This event will be broadcast live from the Music Room on April 7 at 4pm Eastern. All registered ticket holders will receive a link directing them to a livestream webpage where the performance can be accessed. Ticket holders will be able to watch this performance "On Demand" for 48 hours following the broadcast time.
About Gary Hoffman, cello
About Karen Su, violin
About Henry Kramer, piano
Praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a "pianist of enormous talent" and The New York Times for “thrilling [and] triumphant” performances, pianist Henry Kramer is a musician of rare sensitivity who combines stylish programming with insightful and exuberant interpretations. An international prize winner, Mr. Kramer has been awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant by Lincoln Center–one of the most coveted honors bestowed on young American soloists.
In addition to a thriving solo career, Kramer is a recording and performance collaborator with such musicians as Mathew Lipman and Jiyoon Lee and has appeared in recitals at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Mostly Mozart Festival, and La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest. His recording with violinist Lee on the Champs Hill label received four stars from BBC Music Magazine, and Gramophone UK praised Kramer's recording collaboration (Cedille Records) with violist Lipman for an "exemplary flexible partnership." Henry has also performed alongside Emmanuel Pahud, the Calidore and Pacifica Quartets, and Miriam Fried, as well as members of the Berlin Philharmonic and Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Kramer, a Steinway Artist, graduated from the Juilliard School, where he worked with Julian Martin and Robert McDonald, and received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music under the guidance of Boris Berman. His teachers trace a pedagogical lineage extending back to Beethoven, Chopin, and Busoni.
http://www.henrykramerpiano.com/