Community Calendar

The intrepid MacArthur grant-winning pianist has dazzled our audience for over twenty years with his brilliant programming and impeccable musicianship. Called “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs” (NY Times), his program intersperses old and new etudes by women composers with two classic Beethoven sonatas.

Hélène de Montgeroult: Etudes
Beethoven: “Tempest” Sonata, Op. 31, No. 2
Unsuk Chin: Etudes
Beethoven: A-flat Major Sonata, Op. 110

“One of the world’s most remarkable singers” (Boston Globe), this Grammy-winning tenor has appeared with major international orchestras including the NY Philharmonic, London Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and many others. A dynamic recitalist and programmer, he performs moving songs of migration among projected images reflecting our country’s immigrant experience.

Fellow Citizens: Celebrating our Nation of Immigrants
Songs from Franz Schubert to Irving Berlin

His 2024 Schenectady debut left all who attended thunderstruck, establishing him as a series mainstay for years to come. Having since gone on to win the Bronze Medal at the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition, Ozel displays his broad colorful palette in Debussy’s evocative Préludes and Schumann’s masterful miniatures.

Debussy: Préludes, Book I
Grant Still: Summerland
Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6

Making her Carnegie hall debut this year, the Russian artist is renowned for her breathtaking virtuosity and insightful interpretations. Called “a greatly gifted pianist,” (Gramophone), Chochieva makes her highly anticipated debut in a program of keyboard classics spanning two centuries highlighting her enormous gifts.

Beethoven: “Appassionata” Sonata, Op. 57
Cowell: Aeolian Harp
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
Saint-Saëns: Prélude & Fugue, Op. 52, No. 3
Brahms: Third Sonata, Op. 5

This young Scottish-Indian artist has won multiple European competitions and makes his recital debut in London’s Wigmore Hall in 2026. A member of Britain’s prestigious YCAT program, we feature our Horizons Young Artist in a free concert of solo guitar works for all to enjoy.

Works of Bach, Schubert, Dowland, & others

Canadian pianist Sarah Hagen’s extensive touring has taken her across Canada, to Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany and Italy, and twice to New York City’s Carnegie Hall. With “Perk up, pianist!” Sarah Hagen has transformed her award-winning role as “concert pianist” into a stand-up, or rather, sit-down comedy. Pairing anecdotes from the road with some of her favorite pieces by Chopin, Debussy, and Liszt, Sarah takes audiences deep inside the world of a classical musician as she shares her earnest efforts to keep her spirits up amid troublesome times. Part storytelling and part recital, “Perk up, pianist!” has been described as “one of the best hours I’ve ever spent at the Fringe” [The Coast, Halifax].

His last appearance in 2026 was completely sold out. The legendary pianist returns for his final recital at the series in repertoire that cemented his place among the giants of the keyboard over the last fifty years. We’re thrilled that he has chosen Chopin’s music for his return to the series.

Schubert: A-major Sonata, D. 664
Schubert: 4 Impromptus, D. 935
Chopin: Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61
Chopin: Barcarolle, Op. 60
Chopin: Nocturne, Op. 27, No. 1
Chopin: Second Scherzo, Op. 31

We close the Schenectady season with the first half of a celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Beethoven’s passing. Three of the world’s greatest ensembles—the Belcea, Brentano, and Ébène —will each present two programs traversing the composer’s sixteen string quartets in Spring and Fall 2027.

This Parisian ensemble has dazzled our audience and those around the world with their awe-inspiring cohesiveness and scintillating performances. The Ébène plays the complete Beethoven cycle this season at Carnegie Hall, and we’re thrilled to have them be part of ours.

BEETHOVEN QUARTET CYCLE (PART I)
G-major Quartet, Op. 18, No. 2
F-major Quartet, Op. 135
C-sharp Minor Quartet, Op. 131

We close the Schenectady season with the first half of a celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Beethoven’s passing. Three of the world’s greatest ensembles—the Belcea, Brentano, and Ébène —will each present two programs traversing the composer’s sixteen string quartets in Spring and Fall 2027.

This Parisian ensemble has dazzled our audience and those around the world with their awe-inspiring cohesiveness and scintillating performances. The Ébène plays the complete Beethoven cycle this season at Carnegie Hall, and we’re thrilled to have them be part of ours.

BEETHOVEN QUARTET CYCLE (PART I)
A-major Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5
C-minor Quartet, Op. 18, No. 4
E-flat Major Quartet, Op. 127

We close the Schenectady season with the first half of a celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Beethoven’s passing. Three of the world’s greatest ensembles—the Belcea, Brentano, and Ébène —will each present two programs traversing the composer’s sixteen string quartets in Spring and Fall 2027.

Yale’s Quartet-in-Residence returns after their exquisite traversal of Haydn’s Op. 33 quartets last February. Renowned for their profound musicianship and passionate playing, the Brentano offers the first of two Beethoven programs before returning this fall.

BEETHOVEN QUARTET CYCLE (PART I)
“Razumovsky” Quartet, Op. 59, No. 1
D-major Quartet, Op. 18, No. 3
“Razumovsky” Quartet, Op. 59, No. 2