(MADISON, NJ) -- The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) brings its world-renowned roster of chamber musicians to Drew University’s Concert Hall in Madison, NJ, for a new three-concert series in the 2022-2023 season, with performances at 7:30pm on Saturday evenings November 19, January 28 and April 15. 

To kick off the series in November cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han (co-artistic directors of CMS), join violinist Arnaud Sussman and violist Paul Neubauer for a program of music by Beethoven, Dvořák, and Brahms. On January 28, the program is devoted to the music of Franz Schubert, with pianists Alessio Bax and Gloria Chen, violinist Benjamin Beilman and cellist David Requiro. And on April 15, audiences can enjoy a concert of quintets by Mozart and Dvořák, with violinists Ani Kavafian and Alexander Sitkovetsky, violists Steven Tenenbom and Misha Amory, and cellist David Finckel. 

“Part of our mission,” said CMS Executive Director Suzanne Davidson, “is to bring chamber music of the highest caliber to as many people and places as we can. This new series gives the community a chance enjoy hear chamber music concerts by some of the finest musicians in the world, right in their hometown.” 

“We have performed many times at the beautiful Concert Hall at Drew University with its wonderful acoustics, and we are thrilled to be launching our own series there, putting down roots in this community, where I grew up,” said CMS Co-Artistic Director David Finckel. “These programs offer selections that are designed to delight audiences, whether they are new to chamber music or already familiar with the repertoire.” 

CMS brings the experience of great chamber music to more people than any other organization of its kind with a full season in New York as well as residencies, concert series and concert tours at venues around the world. The series at Drew University joins CMS’s ongoing summer series at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in New York State and a new fall/spring season starting this October, as well as concert series at Harris Theater in Chicago; St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids, MI; Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA; and Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, KY.

CMS at the Concert Hall at Drew University Concert Schedule 2022-23

The Concert Hall is located at 36 Madison Avenue, at Lancaster Road in Madison, New Jersey.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 7:30pm - Beethoven, Dvořák, and Brahms. Faithful friends at the height of their careers, Brahms and Dvořák supported each other musically and personally. Famous for respecting only a handful of musicians, Brahms admired Dvořák’s gifts almost to the point of jealousy, and Dvořák benefitted from the wisdom of Brahms's advice on his compositions and career. And both looked over their shoulders at the towering figure of Beethoven, as they were expected to follow in his footsteps.

Beethoven Trio in G major for Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 9, No. 1 (1797-98)

Dvořák Sonatina in G major for Violin and Piano, Op. 100 (1893)

Brahms Quartet No. 1 in G minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 25 (1860-61)

ARNAUD SUSSMANN, Violin; WU HAN, Piano; PAUL NEUBAUER, Viola; DAVID FINCKEL, Cello

Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 7:30pm - Magical Schubert. During his brief life, Franz Schubert created a stunning musical legacy. Composing almost a thousand works in just eighteen years, his mastery accelerated as he neared death at only thirty-one, leaving symphonies, piano works, chamber music and songs for the world to discover during the remainder of the 19th century. This program features three examples of Schubert's genius, each work at the pinnacle of its genre.

Schubert Fantasie in F minor for Piano, Four Hands, D. 940, Op. 103 (1828)

Schubert Fantasy in C major for Violin and Piano, D. 934, Op. 159 (1827)

Schubert Trio No. 1 in B-flat major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, D. 898, Op. 99 (1827)

ALESSIO BAX, GLORIA CHIEN, Piano; BENJAMIN BEILMAN, Violin; DAVID REQUIRO, Cello

Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 7:30pm. Great Quintets. A sublime and masterful duo by Mozart opens a program celebrating the art of the string quintet, a genre virtually invented by the viola-playing Mozart which allows for the addition of a second viola to the hallowed ensemble of the string quartet. Mozart's six quintets set the standard for later masters to emulate, as you will hear in Dvorak's exuberant "American" quintet, composed in Spillville, Iowa.

Mozart Duo No. 2 in B-flat major for Violin and Viola, K. 424 (1783)

Mozart Quintet in G minor for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, K. 516 (1787)

Dvořák Quintet in E-flat major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, Op. 97, “American” (1893)

ANI KAVAFIAN, ALEXANDER SITKOVETSKY, Violin; STEVEN TENENBOM, Viola; MISHA AMORY, Viola; DAVID FINCKEL, Cello 

Subscriptions are on sale now and start at $135; single tickets are $60 and are available Tuesday, October 11.

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is one of eleven constituents of the largest performing arts complex in the world, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Through its many performance, education, recording, digital, and broadcast activities, CMS brings the experience of great chamber music to more people than any other organization of its kind with a full season in New York, as well as national and international tours. Under the artistic leadership of David Finckel and Wu Han, CMS presents a wide variety of concert series and educational events for listeners of all ages, appealing to both connoisseurs and newcomers. The performing artists constitute a revolving multi-generational and international roster of the world’s best chamber musicians, enabling CMS to present chamber music of every instrumentation, style, and historical period. The CMS Bowers Program, its competitive three-season residency, is dedicated to developing the chamber music leaders of the future and integrates this selection of extraordinary early-career musicians into every facet of CMS activities. Its incomparable digital presence, which regularly enables CMS to reach hundreds of thousands of viewers and listeners around the globe annually, includes: a growing number of live-streamed programs; more than 1,000 hours of performance and education videos free to the public on its website; a 52-week public radio series across the US; radio programming in Taiwan and mainland China; appearances on American Public Media; the monthly program “In Concert with CMS” on the ALL ARTS broadcast channel;  the NY-Emmy-nominated documentary “Transcending: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Celebrates 50 Years”; and performances featured on Medici.tv, Tencent, and SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall channel.

Jerome L. Greene Foundation is the 2022-2023 CMS Season Sponsor.

All CMS digital programming is made possible by the Hauser Fund for Media and Technology. 

CMS thanks the following for their leadership support: Ann S. Bowers, Judy and Tony Evnin, Judi Flom, the Irving Harris Foundation, Elinor and Andrew Hoover, Mr. and Mrs. James P. O'Shaughnessy, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc., the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Foundation, Alphadyne Foundation, The Chisholm Foundation, Sally D. and Stephen M. Clement, III, Joseph M. Cohen, Joyce B. Cowin, Roberta and Gerard H. Davis Charitable Foundation, Sidney E. Frank Foundation, William B. and Inger G. Ginsberg, Mrs. Phyllis Grann, Mr. and Mrs. Paul B. Gridley, Gail and Walter Harris, Christopher Hughes and Sean Eldridge, Jane and Peter Keegan, The Lehoczky and Escobar Family, Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, Elaine and Alan Weiler, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund. 

Public funds are provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.