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CCMS: Ehnes and Armstrong finally get to wrap up their Beethoven cycle

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by Daniel Hathaway

Blissfully unaware of what was to come, on September 10, 2019, I wrote:

The Cleveland Chamber Music Society will take a bit of a different tack for its 70th Anniversary Season in 2019-2020. Violinist James Ehnes and pianist Andrew Armstrong will appear in three of the nine concerts, performing Beethoven’s complete Sonatas for violin and piano, a series that will be presented at the Maltz Performing Arts Center in University Circle on September 17, January 14 (pictured), and April 21.

As we now know, Ehnes and Armstrong had only completed two of their three programs before the novel coronavirus roared into town in March of 2020, causing widespread cancellations and postponements.

The final concert in their Beethoven series will now serve as the finale for CCMS’ 71st season on Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30 pm. The program includes Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30, No. 3, Sonata No. 7 in c, Op. 30, No. 2, and Sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96.

Tickets for the in-person concert at St. Paschal Baylon in Highland Heights are available online, and the Society is also offering a free live stream of the event. [Read more…]

Ehnes & Armstrong in second of three CCMS concerts (Jan. 14)

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by Daniel Hathaway

When a pianist is performing center stage and seating is open, audiences tend to drift toward the keyboard side of the auditorium to get a good view of the performer’s hands. I like to head toward stage left, the better to catch the expressions on the pianist’s face. That paid off on Tuesday evening, January 14 on the Cleveland Chamber Music Society’s series at the Maltz Performing Arts Center when violinist James Ehnes and pianist Andrew Armstrong continued their progress through Beethoven’s complete sonatas. Per il Clavicembalo o Forte-Piano con un Violino is how the first edition subtitled them, making it clear that if the pianist isn’t the major actor, the two instruments are at least equal partners in this musical enterprise. [Read more…]

CCMS at the Maltz: Ehnes & Armstrong in first of three Beethoven recitals (Sept. 17)

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by Daniel Hathaway

James Ehnes and Andrew Armstrong are celebrating the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth with performances of his ten sonatas for violin and piano. It’s a big undertaking, and performances can come in different configurations: the duo will sometimes play the whole lot over two or three adjacent evenings, or space them out over three widely-spread performances. The Cleveland Chamber Music Society has opted for the latter. The opening concert of the set took place at the Maltz Performing Arts Center on September 17, with others to follow on January 14 and April 21. [Read more…]

Ehnes & Armstrong to play complete
Beethoven violin sonatas
on CCMS Series

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by Daniel Hathaway

The Cleveland Chamber Music Society will take a bit of a different tack for its 70th Anniversary Season in 2019-2020. Violinist James Ehnes and pianist Andrew Armstrong will appear in three of the nine concerts, performing Beethoven’s complete Sonatas for violin and piano, a series that will be presented at the Maltz Performing Arts Center in University Circle on September 17, January 14, and April 21.

Concerts at the Society’s customary venue, Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights, will include the Jerusalem Quartet (October 22), the Dover Quartet (December 3), the Apollon Musagète Quartet (February 4), and Chanticleer (March 3).

Other exceptions to the Plymouth Church location: pianist Till Fellner will play a recital in Mixon Hall at the Cleveland Institute of Music on November 12, and the series will end back at the Maltz Center on May 5 with a performance by violinist David Bowlin and the Albers Trio.

I reached James Ehnes at his home in Florida last week and began by asking how the idea of performing all of Beethoven’s ten violin sonatas originated. [Read more…]

Ehnes, Armstrong & 1722 Strad featured on Oberlin Artist Recital Series (Oct. 14)

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by Daniel Hathaway

On October 14 in Finney Chapel, Canadian violinist James Ehnes took Oberlin’s 1722 Stradivarius on the first public outing since its complete restoration. Leavening distinguished playing with laid-back humor, his splendid recital with pianist Andrew Armstrong on the Oberlin Artist Recital Series put the famous fiddle through its paces in music by Beethoven, Ravel, Brahms, and John Corigliano. It was a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. [Read more…]

Oberlin Artist Recital Series:
A conversation with
violinist James Ehnes

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by Mike Telin

Without a doubt, James Ehnes is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. “How are you today, thanks for calling,” the Canadian violinist said, answering his cell phone in Nashville. “I’m really looking forward to getting back to Oberlin. And of course, under these special circumstances with the unveiling of this violin, it’s going to be a nice occasion.”

On Sunday, October 14 at 2:30 pm in Finney Chapel, James Ehnes will make a return visit to the Oberlin Artist Recital Series along with pianist Andrew Armstrong. Their program will feature the earliest published works by Beethoven, Ravel, Brahms, and Corigliano. And the “unveiling of this violin” he mentioned refers to the recently restored 1722 ‘ex-Vallot’ Stradivarius instrument owned by Oberlin, on which he’ll be performing. Tickets are available online.

Sunday’s concert will mark the first public hearing of the ‘ex-Vallot’ in nearly two decades, and since its complete restoration by the Chicago-based restorer John K. Becker. Ehnes’ invitation to perform on the instrument came from the conservatory’s long-time professor of violin Marilyn McDonald, who has known Ehnes since his teenage years, when he spent his summers performing at the Peninsula Music Festival in Wisconsin. “I think I’ve known Marilyn for over 20 years,” Ehnes recalled. “She’s a special woman and it’s always nice to spend time with her.” [Read more…]

Violinist Tessa Lark and pianist Andrew Armstrong shine at Finney Chapel (Nov. 19)

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by Mike Telin

LARK-TessaIn October of this year, the brilliant young violinist Tessa Lark wowed audiences and critics with her commanding performances of John Corigliano’s ‘Red Violin’ Concerto with CityMusic Cleveland. On Sunday, November 19 the Avery Fisher Career Grant winner returned to the area, this time showing her skill as a recitalist during a captivating program as part of the Oberlin Artist Recital series. She and the superb pianist Andrew Armstrong brought an abundance of musical prowess to the Finney Chapel stage. [Read more…]

Oberlin Artist Recital Series: violinist Tessa Lark and pianist Andrew Armstrong step in

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by Jarrett Hoffman

LARK-TessaAfter playing John Corigliano’s ‘The Red Violin’ Concerto last month with CityMusic Cleveland, violinist Tessa Lark returns to the area to make her Oberlin Artist Recital Series debut, replacing violist Lawrence Power.

On Sunday, November 19 at 4:00 pm at Finney Chapel, she’ll join pianist Andrew Armstrong in Igor Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne, Manuel Ponce’s Estrellita, Martín Rojas’ En la Orilla del Mundo, Maurice Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in G, Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56, and Richard Strauss’s Violin Sonata in E-flat. Previously purchased tickets for Lawrence Power will be honored at the door.

During our October conversation, Tessa Lark said that she and Armstrong met and collaborated only a few weeks before the call from Oberlin. [Read more…]

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