Music at the Gardner

WINTER/SPRING 2019

FROM THE CURATOR OF MUSIC

Dear Friends,

This season I am delighted to welcome performer Helga Davis to the Gardner Museum as our second Visiting Curator of Performing Arts. Helga is bringing her boundless energy and brilliance — and her relationships with some of the most visionary artists of our time — to plan multi-disciplinary performances and surprise pop-ups throughout the Museum. If you sign up with your email (see below), we’ll share all the details as they are finalized. Please join us!

— George Steel, Abrams Curator of Music

HELGA DAVISGEORGE STEEL

To get monthly updates about concerts, performances, and more, visit: gardnermuseum.org/signup

WEEKEND CONCERT SERIES / pg 2

The Gardner Museum’s signature series

BOTTICELLI EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING / pg 4

Special performances responding to the Winter/Spring exhibition

PROKOFIEV’S COMPLETE PIANO SONATAS / pg 7

Gleb Ivanov takes on the astonishing 20th-century keyboard works

THURSDAY EVENING CONCERTS / pg 18

An adventurous mix of contemporary art, music, and performance

RISE / pg 19

Our popular series featuring pop, rock, and hip-hop artists

WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?MUSIC AT THE GARDNER / WINTER/SPRING 2019

AT-A - GLANCE / pg 20

CONCERT INFORMATION / inside back cover

WEEKEND CONCERT SERIES

Sunday, January 20, 1:30 pmNIKITA MNDOYANTS, piano BOSTON DEBUT

Franz Joseph Haydn, Sonata in E Major, Hob. xvi: 31 (1776)Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 (1822)Johannes Brahms, Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5 (1853)Leonard Bernstein, “For Stephen Sondheim” (1965), “In Memoriam:

William Kapell” (1981), and “For My Daughter, Nina” (1981)

Both pianist and composer, Nikita Mndoyants rocketed to early stardom in 2016 at the very beginning of his international career with a remarkable first — winning both the Cleveland International Piano Competition and the Prokofiev International Composers Competition.

NIKITA MNDOYANTS

SOOBEEN LEE

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Tickets are required and include Museum admission. Choose from two seating sections. See inside back cover for details.

SECTION A:

FLOOR LEVEL & FIRST BALCONY

Adults $36, seniors $33, members $24, students & children 7–17 $15.

SECTION B:

SECOND & THIRD BALCONIES

Adults $31, seniors $28, members $19, students & children 7–17 $15.

CHARLIE ALBRIGHT

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Sunday, January 27, 1:30 pmSOOBEEN LEE, violin BOSTON DEBUT / YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS WINNER

Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Sonata No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30, No. 3 (1802) Camille Saint-Saëns, Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 7 (1885)Béla Bartók, Rhapsody No. 1 (1928)Leonard Bernstein, Violin Sonata (1940)

Called “Korea’s hottest violin prodigy,” SooBeen Lee is making an early name for herself in Boston and around the world.

Sunday, February 3, 1:30 pmCHARLIE ALBRIGHT, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 14, “Moonlight” (1801)Leoš Janácek, Piano Sonata 1.x.1905 (1905)Gian Carlo Menotti, Ricercare and Toccata (The Old Maid and the Thief ) (1953)Vivian Fine, Concertante (1944)Leonard Bernstein, “For Elizabeth B. Ehrman” (1951)

Charlie Albright plays a program of music both beloved and unfamiliar.

This concert is generously sponsored by Diane Gipson and Charles Rendeiro.

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BOTTICELLI EXHIBITION PROGRAMMINGTwo musical programs have been created to complement the Museum’s special exhibition, Botticelli: Heroines and Heroes, which opens on February 14. The exhibition features Botticelli’s diptych telling the stories of Lucretia and Virginia.

Sunday, February 10, 1:30 pmACRONYM La caduta de’ Decemviri

Alessandro Scarlatti, La caduta de’ Decemviri (1697)

Cast to be announced

Scarlatti’s unrecorded opera tells the story of Virginia, the hero of Roman republicanism during the tyrannical rule of the 10 men (Decemviri), and the wicked Appius Claudius.

Sunday, February 17, 1:30 pmThe City of Women

Oompa, spoken word; Helga Davis, performance; Isabella Ensemble, George Steel, conductor

Oompa, On Lucretia WORLD PREMIERE GARDNER MUSEUM COMMISSION

Courtney Bryan, Yet Unheard: In Memory of Sandra Bland (2016)Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, Judith (1708)Kate Whitley (text by Malala Yousafzai), Speak Out (2017)Barbara Strozzi, È giungerà pur mai (1664)

Helga Davis, the Gardner’s second Visiting Curator of Performing Arts, collaborates with Abrams Curator of Music George Steel on a program that tells the stories of women, from Lucretia to Sandra Bland, whose lives and deaths have inspired action against injustice and tyranny.

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Saturday, February 23, 3 pm Sunday, February 24, 1:30 pmBORROMEO STRING QUARTET

Felix Mendelssohn, String Quartet No. 1 in E Flat, Op. 12 (1829) Felix Mendelssohn, String Quartet No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 44, No. 2 (1839)Ruth Crawford Seeger, String Quartet (1931)Leonard Bernstein, Yosi, the Jokester (arr. Nicholas Kitchen) (c. 1950)

This is the second concert in a two-year cycle of Mendelssohn’s six string quartets. It also features the remarkable lone string quartet of Ruth Crawford Seeger, an American composer of extraordinary, forward-looking music.

BORROMEO STRING QUARTET

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GLEB IVANOV

Sunday, March 3, 1:30 pmGLEB IVANOV, piano BOSTON DEBUT Sergei Prokofiev Complete Piano Sonatas: Part I

Sunday, March 10, 1:30 pmGLEB IVANOV, piano Sergei Prokofiev Complete Piano Sonatas: Part II

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PROKOFIEV’S COMPLETE PIANO SONATAS

Sergei Prokofiev was one of the principal coiners of the musical lingua franca of 20th-century music. His piano sonatas, written between 1909 and 1947, are a dazzling catalog of some of his most fascinating (and often- copied) ideas. This cycle of the complete sonatas is sure to be an exciting and ear-opening tour de force by Gleb Ivanov.

Saturday, March 16, 3 pm Sunday, March 17, 1:30 pmA FAR CRY with NICOLE MITCHELL, contralto

John Adams, Shaker Loops (1978)Julia Perry, Stabat Mater (1951)Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Sinfonietta No. 1 (1955)Jessie Montgomery, Starburst (2012)

The Gardner Museum’s beloved Ensemble-in-Residence returns for this program of four American masterpieces, spanning six decades: Julia Perry’s moving Stabat Mater, John Adams’ giddy and hypnotizing Shaker Loops, and the music of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, a formidable conductor and composer who collaborated with artists as diverse as Max Roach, Marvin Gaye, Jerome Robbins, and Melvin Van Peebles.

ADAMS, PERRY, PERKINSON, MONTGOMERY

A FAR CRY

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WEEKEND CONCERT SERIES

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SPECIAL EVENT

Saturday, March 23, 3 pmFROM THE TOP: LIVE CONCERT RECORDING special guest host LEILA JOSEFOWICZ, violin

A co-presentation of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and From the Top

Boston’s long-running radio series provides a national platform for young performers to be heard playing and talking about their interests and lives. The Gardner Museum is delighted to join forces with this great American project as it welcomes Leila Josefowicz as guest host.

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Sunday, March 24, 1:30 pmMUSICIANS FROM MARLBORO

Vasil Garvanliev, tenor Alexi Kenney & Anna Lee, violins Luosha Fang, violin/viola Hsin-Yun Huang, viola Sujin Lee & Judith Serkin, cellos

Henry Purcell, Chacony (c. 1680)Antonín Dvorák, String Sextet in A Major, Op. 48 (1878)Ralph Vaughan Williams, Along the Field (1927)Leonard Bernstein, Andante Contemplativo (1944)Benjamin Britten, String Quartet in C Major, Op. 36 (1945)

This program pairs Britten’s string quartet, an homage to Henry Purcell, with a small Bernstein work, written as a gift for Serge Koussevitzky, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, from the same period. The program, anchored by Dvorák’s sextet, is rounded out with a song cycle for violin and voice by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

MUSICIANS FROM MARLBORO

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Sunday, March 31, 1:30 pmBRIDGET KIBBEY, harp

Chad Hoopes & Francisco Fullana, violins Matthew Lipman, viola Brook Speltz, cello Jasmine Choi, flute Romie de Guise Langlois, clarinet

Cecile Chaminade, Concertino for Flute (1902) Claude Debussy, Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane (1904)Maurice Ravel, Introduction and Allegro (1905)Camille Saint-Saëns, Fantaisie for Violin and Harp (1907)André Caplet, Conte Fantastique (1923)Leonard Bernstein, “For Felicia Montealegre” (1948)

Virtuoso harpist Bridget Kibbey has assembled an all-star cast of musicians for this performance of spectacular French chamber music, including one of Ravel’s most succulent works, and a chamber tone poem by Andre Caplet, who conjures Poe’s “Mask of the Red Death” in his Conte Fantastique.

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Sunday, April 7, 1:30 pmXAVIER FOLEY, double bass BOSTON DEBUT

Serge Koussevitzky, Chanson Triste (1906)Leonard Bernstein, “For Serge Koussevitzky” (1943) Xavier Foley, new workOther repertoire to be announced

The winner of a 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Xavier Foley is blazing a trail as a bassist and composer. Only a few years ago, he won both the Sphinx Competition and the Young Concert Artists Prize. Now he is a resident artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s CMS Two.

Saturday, April 13, 1:30 pmBOSTON CHILDREN’S CHORUS

Program to be announced

The 2018–2019 Boston Children’s Chorus concerts are generously sponsored by Willa and Taylor Bodman.

BERNSTEIN & KOUSSEVITZKY

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WEEKEND CONCERT SERIES

Sunday, April 21, 1:30 pmATTACCA QUARTET BOSTON DEBUT

Franz Joseph Haydn, String Quartet in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2 (1799)Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132,

“Heiliger Dankgesang” (1825)Caroline Shaw, Entr’acte (2011)Caroline Shaw, Valencia (2012)Leonard Bernstein (arr. Andrew Yee), from Piano Anniversaries

One of America’s most talented young string quartets, Attacca recently completed an exploration of Haydn’s 68 string quartets. They round out this program with two works by Caroline Shaw, the youngest composer to win the Pulitzer Prize. Her work Valencia has become a modern classic. Her work Entr’acte was written in response to Haydn’s Op. 77, No. 2.

Sunday, April 28, 1:30 pmHANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY The Magic of Venice

Ian Watson, director Margot Rood, soprano Aisslinn Nosky, violin Karina Schmitz, viola d’amore

Vivaldi, Sinfonia “Il coro delle muse,” rv 149Vivaldi, Sinfonia in G, rv 146Vivaldi, Ostro picta, armata spina (introduzione to Gloria, rv 588), rv 642 Vivaldi, Concerto for Viola d’amore in D, rv 392Vivaldi, Concerto for Violin in E Flat, “La tempesta di mare,” rv 98

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Sunday, May 5, 1:30 pmIFETAYO ALI, cello BOSTON DEBUT / SPHINX COMPETITION LAUREATE

Johannes Brahms, Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38 (1865)Ludwig van Beethoven, Seven Variations on “Bei Männern,

welche Liebe fühlen” (from The Magic Flute), WoO 46 (1801)Alberto Ginastera, Pampeana No. 2 for Cello and Piano, Op. 21 (1950)J. S. Bach, Adagio from Toccata in C Major, bwv 564 (c. 1715)

At age 15, Ifetayo Ali became the Sphinx Competition Junior Division First-Place Laureate — and she has the remarkable musicianship and magnetic stage presence to back it up. She appeared on the Boston-based NPR program From the Top this season, and now makes a full recital debut with an exciting program.

Sunday, May 12, 1:30 pmMUSICIANS FROM MARLBORO

Gabriele Carcano, piano Yoojin Jang & Joseph Lin, violins Kei Tojo, viola Sarah Rommel, cello

Franz Schubert, Quartettsatz in C Minor, D. 703 (1820)Johannes Brahms, Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 (1861)Béla Bartók, String Quartet No. 5 (1934)Leonard Bernstein, Five Anniversaries (1949–1951)

The Marlboro musicians bring a program anchored by Bartók’s riveting fifth quartet and Brahms’s first piano quartet. This dynamic program acts as the finale to the Winter/Spring 2019 season.

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THURSDAY EVENING CONCERTS

Thursday, January 31, 7 pmTHE CAMPBELL BROTHERS

One of the leading ensembles in America’s “sacred steel” gospel music tradition, this family of musicians makes their pedal steel guitar and lap guitar sing, swing, shout, testify, and raise the roof. These legendary artists are sure to bring down the house.

Thursday, February 28, 6 & 8 pmDAVID BOWIE’S BLACKSTAR

Composer, performer, and MIT professor Evan Ziporyn has created a blockbuster tribute to the late David Bowie, transforming his final album, Blackstar, into a cello concerto for avant-garde cellist Maya Beyser, backed by the Ambient Orchestra. A special spectacle of light and projection is being created especially for this performance in Calderwood Hall.

Thursday, May 30, 7 pmMAIMOUNA YOUSSEF A Woman’s Worth

Celebrate the power and stories of women with soulful and intimate performances from local artists and Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and emcee Maimouna Youssef.

THE CAMPBELL BROTHERS

MAYA BEYSER

Tickets are required and include Museum admission: adults $27, seniors $24, members $17, students & children 7–17 $15.

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Tickets are required and include Museum admission: adults $27, seniors $24, members $17, students & children 7–17 $15. Limited number of tickets available in member presale November 14–26.

RISE

Curated by Shea Rose and Simone Scazzocchio, RISE spotlights pop, rock, and hip-hop artists, inviting them to perform in Calderwood Hall, our sonic cube.

Thursday, March 28, 7 pmPERFORMERS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Thursday, April 25, 7 pmPERFORMERS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Thursday Evening Concerts and the RISE music series are generously sponsored by Amy and David Abrams. Media sponsor: Improper Bostonian

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5 SU IFETAYO ALI 1:30 pm pg 17

12 SU MUSICIANS FROM MARLBORO 1:30 pm pg 17

30 TH A WOMAN’S WORTH 7 pm pg 18

AT-A-GLANCE

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SPRING 2019 MEMBERS CONCERT TICKET PRESALE: NOVEMBER 14–26

Reserve tickets before they become available to the general public (November 28). Not a member? Join today for member discounts and other valuable benefits: gardnermuseum.org/join-give

JANUARY

20 SU NIKITA MNDOYANTS 1:30 pm pg 2

27 SU SOOBEEN LEE 1:30 pm pg 3

31 TH THE CAMPBELL BROTHERS 7 pm pg 18

FEBRUARY

3 SU CHARLIE ALBRIGHT 1:30 pm pg 3

10 SU ACRONYM 1:30 pm pg 5

17 SU THE CITY OF WOMEN 1:30 pm pg 5

23 SA BORROMEO STRING QUARTET 3 pm pg 6

24 SU BORROMEO STRING QUARTET 1:30 pm pg 6

28 TH DAVID BOWIE’S BLACKSTAR 6 & 8 pm pg 18

MARCH

3 SU GLEB IVANOV 1:30 pm pg 6

10 SU GLEB IVANOV 1:30 pm pg 6

16 SA A FAR CRY 3pm pg 8

17 SU A FAR CRY 1:30 pm pg 8

23 SA FROM THE TOP 3 pm pg 9

24 SU MUSICIANS FROM MARLBORO 1:30 pm pg 10

28 TH R ISE 7 pm pg 19

31 SU BRIDGET KIBBEY 1:30 pm pg 11

APRIL

7 SU XAVIER FOLEY 1:30 pm pg 13

13 SA BOSTON CHILDREN’S CHORUS 1:30 pm pg 13

21 SU ATTACCA QUARTET 1:30 pm pg 14

25 TH R ISE 7 pm pg 19

28 SU HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY 1:30 pm pg 14

IMAGE CREDITS

cover: Liza Vollinside cover: Whitney Lawson, Emmanuel Afolabipg 2: Emil Matveev, Matt Dinepg 3: courtesy Charlie Albrightpg 5: Jeff Weeks, Jourdan Christopherpg 6: Liz Linder, courtesy Taos Chamber Music Grouppg 8: Yoon S. Byun, Kevin King, Vern Evans, Jiyang Chenpg 9: Chris Leepg 10: Pete Checchia and Allen Cohenpg 11: Ronald Jamespg 12: courtesy Xavier Foleypg 15: Shervin Lainez, Kait Morenopg 16: Kevin Kennedypg 18: courtesy The Campbell Brothers, Justin Knightpg 19: Liza Vollback cover: Elizabeth Leitzell

The Weekend Concert Series is generously sponsored in part by Hemenway & Barnes LLP. The Museum thanks its generous concert donors: Fitzpatrick Family Concert; Diane Gipson; James Lawrence Memorial Concert; Charles Rendeiro; Alford P. Rudnick Memorial Concert; Marie Louise and David Scudder Concert; Wendy Shattuck Young Artist Concert; Willona Sinclair Memorial Concert. The piano is dedicated as the Alex d’Arbeloff Steinway. The harpsichord was generously donated by Dr. Robert Barstow in memory of Marion Huse and its care is endowed in memory of Dr. Barstow by The Barstow Fund. The Museum is also supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which receives support from the State of Massachusetts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

BOX OFFICE PHONE LINE HOURSOpen daily, 10 am – 4 pmThursday until 6 pm; CLOSED TUESDAY

MUSEUM HOURS

Open daily, 11 am – 5 pmThursday until 9 pm; CLOSED TUESDAY

OF NOTE

• Seating in Calderwood Hall is open within each seating level.

• To request accessible or wheelchair seating, or large-type programs, please call the box office at 617 278 5156.

• Seating begins 45 minutes before performance time. Once the performance begins, seating is not guaranteed.

• Tickets purchased online or by phone within 14 days of the concert will be held at the admission desk.

• For sold-out performances, standby tickets may be available in the lobby on the day of performance. We cannot guarantee availability of standby tickets.

• No refunds or exchanges will be made.• Programs are subject to change.

HOW TO BUY TICKETS

Online: gardnermuseum.org/ calendar/music*By phone: 617 278 5156*In person: Visit the Museum and purchase at the admission desk

*Handling charges apply to these orders.

WEEKEND CONCERTS SEATING SECTIONS & PRICES

THIRD BALCONY

Section BSECOND BALCONY

FIRST BALCONY

Section AFLOOR LEVEL

Section A: adults $36, seniors $33, members $24, students & children 7–17 $15

Section B: adults $31, seniors $28, members $19, students & children 7–17 $15

CONCERT INFORMATIONC

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