Chamber Music Today Festival Opens in Seoul Tonight, Dec 8

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han are pleased to announce the second annual CHAMBER MUSIC TODAY festival in Seoul, Korea. This winter the chamber music festival runs today, December 8-10, 2012, at the IBK Chamber Hall of the new Seoul Arts Center. One of the first festivals of its kind established in the Far East, Chamber Music Today plays a vital role in Korea's burgeoning chamber music scene, presenting the world's most esteemed artists.

Chamber Music Today opens with the St. Lawrence String Quartet, one of the all time great chamber ensembles performing today. The group offers two concerts featuring a wide range of repertoire from Haydn, Brahms, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn to Osvaldo Golijov, a composer they have championed throughout their career. The renowned American clarinetist David Shifrin performs Beethoven, Brahms and Bruch with Chamber Music Today Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han; the program mirrors their recent critically acclaimed ArtistLed recording. The final concert of the festival showcases a distinguished line up of Artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Gilbert Kalish, Paul Neubauer, Erin Keefe, Kristin Lee, and Nicholas Canellakis.

David Finckel and Wu Han commented: "As Chamber Music Today approaches its second spectacular season, we continue to dedicate our efforts to expand the scope of chamber music in the Far East. The festival presents us with a far-too-rare opportunity to mount chamber music on Korean stages, and we are continually inspired by the appreciation and excitement that welcomes us there. During this installment, we are joined by the highest caliber of artists as we unveil landmark works by chamber music’s most treasured composers. We firmly believe that the festival will leave classical music lovers of all ages entranced with the art of chamber music, and excitedly look forward to many seasons to come."

DATES & PROGRAMS:

Dec. 8 - Benefit Concert: St. Lawrence String Quartet with David Finckel and Wu Han
Venue: Namsan Hall at Hyatt Hotel, Seoul, Korea
Time: 6 p.m. By invitation only.
Program: Works by Haydn and Brahms

Dec. 9 - David Finckel, Wu Han, and David Shifrin
Venue: IBK Chamber Hall at Seoul Arts Center
Time: 3 p.m.
Program:
Beethoven: Clarinet Trio in B-flat Major, op. 11
Bruch: Selections from Eight Pieces, op. 83
Brahms: Clarinet Trio in a minor, op. 114

Dec. 9 - St. Lawrence String Quartet
Venue: IBK Chamber Hall at Seoul Arts Center
Time: 8 p.m.
Program:
Beethoven: String Quartet in B-flat Major, op. 18, no. 6
Golijov: Qohelet
Mendelssohn: String Quartet in e minor, op. 44, no. 2