75th Anniversary Season 2024-2025
PACIFICA QUARTET
Saturday, October 5, 2024, 7:30 pm
Sponsored by RAV Properties
​
The Pacifica, undoubtedly one of the foremost American quartets performing today, will open our season with a dream program: the Barber Quartet with its much-loved adagio movement, the passionately romantic music of the still teen-aged Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich's intense post-war third quartet.
​
Barber: String Quartet in B Minor, op. 11
Mendelssohn: String Quartet no. 2 in A Minor, op. 13
Shostakovich: String Quartet no. 3 in F Major, op. 73
QUARTETTO DI CREMONA
Saturday, November 2, 2024, 7:30 pm
Sponsored by Dr. Joseph W. Flanagan, M.D.
​
The internationally-acclaimed Cremona Quartet does full justice to the name it bears – the town in Italy that was home to the golden age of violin makers. After one of the Quartet's London concerts, the critic of The Strad called their playing “as sleek and elegant as an Armani suit, with the music tailored to perfection.” And what music we will hear!
​
Ravel: String Quartet in F Major
Bartók: String Quartet no. 4
Schumann: String Quartet op. 41, no. 1
PARKER QUARTET with FLEUR BARRON
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 7:30 pm
​
Mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron has been creating quite a sensation internationally. The London Times called her a “knock-out performer.” The excellent Parker Quartet together with Fleur have devised this contemplative program celebrating the natural environment, “ecopoetry”, and their primarily Asian heritage. They join forces in the world premiere of a piece co-commissioned by SFCM in which Anthony Cheung explores the many ways music can facilitate cross-cultural dialogue.
​
Brahms: “Im Herbst” from Fünf Gesänge, op. 104
John Luther Adams: The Wind in High Places
Anthony Cheung: New Work
Mahler: “Der Einsame im Herbst” from Das Lied von der Erde
Brahms: String Quartet no. 3 in B-flat Major, op. 67
​
THE SYRACUSE ORCHESTRA
Saturday, January 18, 2025, 7:30 pm
​
A chamber orchestra drawn from The Syracuse Orchestra joins forces with community partners to present this varied program of uplifting music.
​
Mozart: Solemn Vespers, K.339
C.P.E. Bach: Symphony in D Major, H.663 (W.183/1)
Mendelssohn: String Symphony no. 12 in G Minor
THE NAUGHTON PIANO DUO
Saturday, March 15, 2025, 7:30 pm
Sponsored by FLX TAX
​
Twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton have captivated audiences around the world with their seemingly mystical communication. “They have to be heard to be believed,” raved the Washington Post. Jennifer Higdon was so inspired by the energy and verve of their four hands dancing over the keyboard that she created the fun romp “Jumble Dance” just for them.
​
Mozart: Sonata K. 358 in B-flat Major
Debussy: Petite Suite
Jennifer Higdon: “Jumble Dance” from Dance Card no. 3
Tania Leon: Satine
Beethoven: Sonata for Piano Four Hands in D Major, op. 6
Saint-Saëns: Variations on a Theme by Beethoven
Ravel: La Valse
​
FRAUTSCHI-NAKAMATSU-MANASSE TRIO
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 7:30 pm
​
A Van Cliburn Piano Competition Gold Medal Winner playing a breath-takingly thrilling Chopin work! Three superb musicians bringing to life Stravinsky at his most inventive! Join us as we welcome back pianist Jon Nakamatsu, two-time GRAMMY nominee violinist Jennifer Frautschi, and clarinetist Jon Manasse, former first chair of the Metropolitan Opera. Their program spotlights their individual talents and explores some musical gems.
​
Debussy: Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Piano
Debussy: Première rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano
Chopin: Andante spianato & Grande polonaise brillante, op.22
Khatchaturian: Trio in G Minor
Stravinsky: Suite from L’Histoire du soldat
Novacek: Two Rags for Violin, Clarinet and Piano
IMANI WINDS
Saturday, May 10, 2025, 7:30 pm
​
When this splendid woodwind quintet returns to close our series, they will perform a new work commissioned by SFCM. The composer is Loren Loiacono of Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music, a prolific composer of orchestral, chamber, and choral music. A fitting culmination of our 75th Anniversary celebration!
​
THE FRENCH CONNECTION: Tout le monde
Lina Mathon Blanchet: A Haitian Tale, arr. Gil DeJean
Jean Françaix: Wind Quintet no. 2 (1987)
Lalo Shifrin: La Nouvelle Orleans
Loren Loiacono: New Work (World premiere)
Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring arr. Jonathan Russell
​