By Jane Fox
Five stars with incredible musical talent will come from concert halls around the world to perform together in the most extravagant display of musical showmanship in New Canaan Chamber Music’s current season. Andrew Armstrong, piano virtuoso and artistic director, will open the program with “Fantasia in D minor for Piano,” one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most well-known and loved works for solo piano.”
This concert, with the season’s largest ensemble of players, will be held on Thursday, March 20 at 3 pm and Friday, March 21 at 7:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in New Canaan at 173 Oenoke Ridge. Tickets are available at www.newcanaanchambermusic.org.
Dazzling performers Ani Aznavoorian, cello, and Matthew Lipman, viola, will return to New Canaan to once again captivate the audience, joined by Stella Chen, violin, and Geneva Lewis, violin. They will perform new “rediscoveries” from Erich Wolfgang Korngold and favorite musical classics in film including Samuel Barber’s lush “Adagio for Strings” recognizable from the feature film “Platoon” (1986).
Ani Aznavoorian is known for her “scorchingly committed performances that wring every last drop of emotion out of the music.” Aznavoorian has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Finnish Radio Symphony, and the Boston Pops.
Matthew Lipman has been praised for his “rich tone and elegant phrasing” as well as his “splendid technique and musical sensitivity” (Chicago Tribune). Lipman has become one of the most sought after instrumentalists of his generation, frequently appearing as both a soloist and chamber musician. He appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, BBC Philharmonic, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Carnegie Hall, and London’s Wigmore Hall.
Stella Chen has quickly risen to prominence in the classical music world, known for her graceful, singing line, gleaming tone and breathtaking use of pianissimo which made the audience at Tully Hall sit bolt upright”(Musical America). She has appeared across North America, Europe, and Asia in concerto, recital, and chamber music performances. She recently made debuts with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and many others.
Geneva Lewis is a musician of consummate artistry whose performances speak from and to the heart. She has been hailed as a young musician who is “clearly one to watch” (Musical America). Since her solo debut at age 11 with the Pasadena POPS, she has performed with orchestras such as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony, and Sarasota Orchestra.
Armstrong, Artistic Director of New Canaan Chamber Music, is praised by critics for his passionate expression and dazzling technique. He has delighted audiences worldwide, performing at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and Warsaw’s National Philharmonic.
In just four years, New Canaan Chamber Music has become a thriving new addition to the concert scene. It also provides growing and inclusive programs of outreach with the Children’s Concerts and programs during the year that bring great music to seniors, youth orchestras, and local schools in New Canaan, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport. NCCM is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
March 20 and 21 2025 Program
Stella Chen, violin
Geneva Lewis, violin
Matthew Lipman, viola
Ani Aznavoorian, cello
Andrew Armstrong, piano
Fantasia in D minor for piano, K 397 (1782), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Requiebros, for cello and piano (1931), Gaspar Cassadó (1897-1966)
Darshan: Charukeshi, for solo violin (2018), Reena Esmail (b. 1983)
Sarabande con variazioni, for violin and viola (1897) mJohan Halvorsen (1864-1935)
Adagio for Strings, from String Quartet Opus 11 (1936), Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Piano Quintet in E Major, Opus 15 (1921), Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)
I. Mäßiges Zeitmaß, mit schwungvoll blühendem Ausdruck
II. Adagio. Mit größter Ruhe, stets äußerst gebunden und aus
drucksvoll
III. Finale. Gemessen beinahe pathetisch
