Program Changes for March

I’m writing with some disappointing news related to the three March Chamber Arts Series concerts.  We learned that violinist JULIA FISCHER is canceling her two upcoming UMS concerts, both of which were on the Chamber Arts Series.  Because of a family concern, she has canceled her entire US tour.  We worked hard to find replacement artists for her two concerts and are delighted to announce that we will be presenting two different artists. The programs will vary from the original all-Bach program given the changes in artist, but we’re very pleased that we’ve been able to work with the artists so that the programs will include significant representation of Bach’s compositions for solo string instruments.

On Wednesday, March 24, Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey will perform a solo cello concert that includes two suites by J.S. Bach alongside two suites by Benjamin Britten.

On Thursday, March 25, violinist Jennifer Koh will perform a program that features two of Bach’s partitas, with additional works by Eugène Ysaÿe, Kaija Saariaho, Elliott Carter, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Complete details on each program are included below.  Because of the programming changes, the Masterpieces Revealed scheduled for March 23 has also been canceled.

We’ve also heard from the manager of the Takács Quartet who contacted us to let us know that the second violinist, Karoly Schranz, must undergo rotator cuff surgery and will be unable to perform on March 15.  The ensemble has re-imagined their program to include duets and trios for violin, viola, and cello by Mozart, Kodály, and Beethoven.  Complete details are included below.  Mr. Schranz is expected to make a full recovery and looks forward to returning to the Quartet in the fall, and to UMS for three performances of a Schubert cycle during the 10/11 season.

For all three of these concerts, you may use the tickets you were originally issued. You can also return your tickets for UMS credit (which can be applied to another performance in the 09/10 season), or donate your tickets back to UMS for a tax-deductible contribution.  Please contact the UMS Ticket Office at 734-764-2538 for complete details.

This has been an unusually difficult year with cancellations and programmatic changes (the Algerian singer Souad Massi canceled her performance in January, and Trio Mediæval their April concert), and we sincerely apologize if you have been impacted by these changes.  Whenever we are able to make a substitution and preserve the original integrity and intent of the originally scheduled performance, we make every effort to do so.  We hope that you will approach these changes with an enthusiastic spirit of discovery as we introduce two new artists to UMS audiences and different repertory that we don’t often have the opportunity to hear.

As always, we appreciate your support of UMS and hope that you find much pleasure in the new programs.

Members of the Takács Quartet
Edward Dusinberre violin • Geraldine Walther viola • András Fejér cello
Monday, March 15, 8pm
Rackham Auditorium

Program:

• Mozart:   Duo for Violin and Viola No. 2 in B-flat Major, K. 424
• Kodály:   Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
• Beethoven:  String Trio in G Major, Op. 9, No. 1

Pieter Wispelwey, solo cello
Wednesday, March 24, 8pm
Rackham Auditorium

Program:

• J. S. Bach:  Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
• Britten:  Suite No. 1, Op. 72
• J. S. Bach:  Suite No. 2 in d minor BWV 1008
• Britten: Suite No. 3, Op. 87

Jennifer Koh, solo violin (no accompanist)
Thursday, March 25, 8 p.m.
Rackham Auditorium

Program

• J. S. Bach:  Partita No. 3 in E Major for Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1006
• Eugène Ysaÿe:  Sonata No. 2 in a minor for Unaccompanied Violin, Op. 27, No. 2, “Obsession”
• Kaija Saariaho:  Nocturne, in memory of Witold Lutosławski
• Elliott Carter:  Fantasy: Remembering Roger
• Esa-Pekka Salonen:   Lachen verlernt [with film projection by Tal Rosner]
• J. S. Bach:   Partita No. 2 in d minor for Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1004