Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 10/27/2025
Photo by Juho Sim
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- One of the world's great violinists, Kyung Wha Chung, returns to McCarter Theatre Center for the first time in nearly 40 years on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 7:30pm, joined by pianist Kevin Kenner. This appearance marks a highlight of Chung's 60th year in music and is part of her limited international tour, which includes only three U.S. engagements—Princeton, Worcester (MA), and New York's Carnegie Hall.
The program features three masterworks: Robert Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 1, Edvard Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 3, and César Franck’s Sonata in A Major—a signature work for Chung, who is widely regarded as one of its definitive interpreters.
Described by The Sunday Times as “simply, relentlessly magnificent: a miracle of momentum and humanity,” Chung is celebrated worldwide for her passion, precision, and deeply expressive artistry. Born in South Korea, she was recognized as a prodigy at an early age, debuting with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at nine and entering The Juilliard School at thirteen. Over her distinguished career, she has collaborated with many of the world’s leading conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Muti, Sir Simon Rattle, and Sir Georg Solti.
Tickets range from $44-$104 and are available for purchase online or by calling the Box Office at (609) 258-2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
A prolific recording artist, Chung has earned numerous honors, including two Gramophone Awards—for her recordings of Strauss and Respighi sonatas with Krystian Zimerman, and Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with Sir Simon Rattle—as well as the Medal of Civil Merit, South Korea’s highest cultural honor.
Her collaborator, Kevin Kenner, first gained international attention as the top American prizewinner at the XII International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Since then, he has received widespread acclaim for his artistry, described by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the finest American pianists to come along in years.” Kenner currently serves on the faculty of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Frost Chopin Academy, which brings emerging pianists together with leading Chopin interpreters each summer.
Chung calls Kenner her “soulmate in music,” and together the duo’s performances are known for their emotional depth, refined communication, and technical brilliance.
Chung last appeared at McCarter in 1987.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to its first performances in 1930. Our Town, You Can’t Take It with You, and Bus Stop all premiered at McCarter, paving the way for a long history of launching remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances worldwide.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock. Of the 100,000 community members who engage with McCarter each year, more than 5,000 are students participating in educational programs in Princeton, Trenton, and schools across the region. McCarter leads with values of justice, joy, and beauty in belonging—creating a space where artists and audiences can come together to celebrate the power of live performance.
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