Staff Report
Three masterworks for piano trio are offered for this not-to-be-missed concert. Joseph Haydn’s witty and lyrical Trio in C Major Hob.XV:27, will provide a joyful beginning to the concert. This piece will be followed by Sergei Rachmaninoff’s brooding and passionate Trio élégiaque in G Minor. After intermission, the transcendent Schubert Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 100 will round out the program.
Ani Aznavoorian received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Juilliard and is a world-renowned cellist. The Principal Cellist of the Camerata Pacifica, Ms. Aznavoorian, also often performs in New York and throughout the world as a soloist with great orchestras. A recent highlight was the honor of performing Lera Auerbach’s Dreammusik for cello and Chamber Orchestra, which was written and commissioned for her by Camerata Pacifica.
Adam Barnett-Hart has attracted worldwide attention for his sensitive musicianship and inspired artistic decisions. As the founding first violinist of the Escher Quartet, he has performed in many of the most prestigious venues and festivals around the world, including Alice Tully Hall and the 92nd Street Y in New York, The Kennedy Center, and the Ravinia and Caramoor Festivals. As a soloist, Mr. Barnett-Hart has performed with the Juilliard Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, and other noted American symphonies and regularly tours Korea as concertmaster of the Sejong Soloists. Mr. Barnett-Hart studied with Pinchas Zuckerman and Joel Smirnoff at Juilliard.
Robert Cassidy has received widespread acclaim for his performances and recordings of both solo piano repertoire and chamber music. His solo disc Pathways featured works by Chopin, Debussy, and Joel Feigin. An in-demand collaborative artist, Dr. Cassidy has created concert programs with Ani Aznavoorian, Richard O’Neill, and the members of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has an active teaching career and has served as the Artistic Director of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series since 2019.
For the safety of our guests, the California Department of Public Health and Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health COVID safety protocols will be followed and may change throughout the series. For the November 20 concert, we ask attendees to be vaccinated and wear face coverings indoors. The venue will have plenty of fresh air, and physically distanced seating will be available. (*Note: Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly as it may be cool inside the venue.)
Artist: Pianist and Music Director John Churchwell
Program: Love Songs and Dances-An Evening of Liebeslieder with special guest vocal artists and Robert Cassidy.
Artist: Grammy–award-winning violinist Johnny Gandelsman, a founding member of Brooklyn Rider and part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble
Program: This is America, performance of a selection of pieces from a new commissioning and recording project featuring over twenty new works for solo violin written by American and US-based artists celebrating America’s rich cultural tapestry.
Artists: The Radian Quartet: Mary Beth Woodruff, violin, Jane Chung, violin, Basil Vendryes, viola, and Andrew Smith, cello, with guest artist Robert Thies, piano
Program: The Journey from Classicism to Impressionism: The Radian Quartet and pianist, Robert Thies performing Mozart, Ravel, and Franck.
