The Kennedy Center Arts Across America focus turns this season to the union of the ongoing Chamber Music Across America category and the Fortas Chamber Music Concert series. During the 14 years that pianist Joseph Kalichstein has been artistic director of the Fortas series, his innovative programs have drawn many first- timers who return time and again. Sometimes the lure is a striking new ensemble; other times listeners yearn to bask in the comfort of familiar favorites. As the audiences grow, so does his creativity.
| If you go The Fortas Chamber Music Series |
| Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater |
| When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 to 17 |
| Info: $38; 202-467-4600 or 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org |
For the centerpiece, Kalichstein has planned three evenings to showcase six remarkable ensembles. The first concert pairs the Emerson String Quartet, winner of nine Grammy Awards, and the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, the Kennedy Center chamber ensemble in residence. Both are recognized worldwide as among the finest in America.
Kalichstein and the husband and wife duo of violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson have played together around the world since their first White House appearance for President Carter more than 30 years ago.
“Sharon, Jaime and I are passionate about what we do and we have tremendous respect for each other,” Kalichstein said. “Because we limit our concerts to 40 each year, we’re always happy to see each other.”
The KLR Trio open the Tuesday program with a short piece, Beethoven’s Variations in E flat. They are followed by the Emerson Quartet performing Mendelssohn’s Andante and Scherzo. Lawrence Dutton, the Emerson violist, then joins them for the Brahms Piano Quartet in C minor.
“The evening closes with Jaime and Sharon and the Emerson Quartet playing Schoenburg’s String Sextet, “Verklarte Nacht” (“Transfigured Night”), Kalichstein said. “It’s a magical muscle piece, his last major romantic work. The sounds he gets out of the strings are astounding. You can’t go any more romantic than this.”
Wednesday’s concert is J.S. Bach’s “The Art of the Fugue” arranged in 1960 by Samuel Baron and performed by the Orion String Quartet and the outstanding wind group Windscape.
The final concert on Thursday pairs the Juilliard String Quartet with the Afiara String Quartet performing quartets by Schubert and Donald Martino and Mendelssohn’s Octet.
“When I was planning these three programs, I thought this collaboration would be special,” Kalichstein said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the audience to hear an acclaimed, long-standing ensemble perform with a fine young quartet.”
