Schenectady, N.Y. (Sept. 10, 2001) – The 2001-2002 Union College Concert Series season begins on Monday, Oct. 1, 2001, in the acoustically superb Union College Memorial Chapel, with venerable pianist Claude Frank. The finest international artists and ensembles are lined up to perform this year, most in their Capital District debuts.
The Emerson Quartet, celebrating its 25th anniversary, will present a Haydn marathon – six of their favorite quartets. The Orpheus Quartet, with pianist Menahem Pressler, will present a rarity, Dohnanyi Piano Quartet No. 1. The Artemis Quartet, three Germans and a Russian, are destined for greatness (see enclosed New York Times review); they will introduce the music of Gyorgi Ligeti, one of the most significant contemporary composers, to the Capital District.
The piano series highlights 18-year-old Chinese sensation, Lang Lang, whose playing has been described as “stunning” and “breathtaking” by The New York Times (see enclosed review). He makes his New York Philharmonic debut in May 2002. Irish pianist Barry Douglas, 1986 Tchaikovsky Gold Medallist, appears with his handpicked, newly minted chamber orchestra. He was the first Western gold medallist since Van Cliburn's triumph thirty years earlier.
Gidon Kremer, Thomas Zehetmair, and Pamela Frank are three of the most renowned violinists on the international scene. Gidon Kremer is a remarkable artist equally at home playing Mozart and Schumann, the tangos of Astor Piazzola, the film music of Nino Rota and Charlie Chaplin, and new music written expressly for him by the likes of John Adams, Arvo Part, and Alfred Schnittke.
Countertenor Andreas Scholl's recital has been rescheduled to November 14. It will be the Series' first-ever recital by a countertenor. Baritone Wolfgang Holzmair will continue the Series tradition of presenting the world's finest lieder singers, a roster that has included Sanford Sylvan, Dame Felicity Lott, and Ian Bostridge.
Rounding out the season are return appearances by the Boston Camerata, cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, Musicians from Marlboro, and arguably the world's finest flutist, Emmanuel Pahud, with a string trio.
Following is a chronological listing of concerts:
| 8 p.m. Monday October 1 | Claude Frank, piano | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Saturday October 27 | Barry Douglas, piano with Camerata Ireland | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Saturday November 3 | Orpheus String Quartet with Menahem Pressler, piano | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Thursday November 8 | Trio: Wu Han, piano; Pamela Frank, violin; Yeesun Kim, cello | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Wednesday November 14 |
Andreas Scholl, countertenor and Edin Karamazov, lute | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Saturday November 24 |
Arnaldo Cohen, piano | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Friday November 30 | Zehetmair String Quartet | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Monday December 17 | Boston Camerata | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Saturday January 5 | David Finckel, cello and Wu Han, piano | $20 |
| 3 p.m. Sunday January 13 | Emerson String Quartet | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Friday February 1 | Wolfgang Holzmair, baritone and Russell Ryan, piano | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Friday February 8 | Pamela Frank, violin and Claude Frank, piano | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Thursday February 28 | Lang Lang, piano | $20 |
| 3 p.m. Sunday March 3 | Artemis String Quartet | $20 |
| 8 p.m. Monday March 18 | Musicians from Marlboro | $15 |
| 8 p.m. Wednesday April 3 | Konstantin Lifschitz, piano | $15 |
| 8 p.m. Monday April 8 | Emmanuel Pahud, flute and Friends | $20 |
| 7 p.m. Sunday April 28 | Gidon Kremer, violin with Kremerata Baltica | $20 |
Students will be admitted to all concerts at half the ticket price. Subscription to all 18 concerts is only $120, which is a savings of $230 over single ticket purchase price. Season tickets may be purchased in advance by mail from the Office of Communications, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. 12308. Single tickets may be purchased at the door one hour before concert time. Parking for all concerts is available in the lot at the corner of Seward Place and Nott Street, with trolley service to the Chapel.
These concerts are made possible, in part, by a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts,
the Times Union Newspapers, and the Schenectady County Initiative Program.