Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 3:00 PM

Muir String Quartet

Peter Zazofsky and Lucia Lin, violins; Steve Ansell, viola; Michael Reynolds, cello

Winner of the 1981 Naumburg Chamber Music Award and the Evian International String Quartet Competition, the Muir first appeared on the scene in 1980 and was greeted with rave reviews. Celebrating their 30th season in 2008-09, the Muir has distinguished itself as one of the world's most powerful and insightful ensembles with its "unbridled musicality." (American Record Guide)

Program for October 5: Mozart Adagio & Fugue in C minor, K 456; Ravel Quartet; and Brahms Quartet in C minor Op. 51 No.1.

www.muirstringquartet.com

Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 3:00 PM

American String Quartet

Peter Winograd and Laurie Carney, violins; Daniel Avshalomov, viola; Wolfram Koessel, cello

Internationally recognized as one of the world's finest quartets, the American String Quartet recently celebrated its 30th anniversary during the 2005-2006 season. Highlighting the anniversary was the Quartet’s debut in a new series of recordings on the Arabesque label, including quartets of celebrated composer Richard Danielpour, and the launch of the Complete Brahms String Chamber Music, featuring a stellar list of collaborative artists. Highlights of their 2006-2007 season included performances with Guillermo Figueroa and Lydia Artimiw, and a tour of Europe. The Quartet was honored to be selected to represent the chamber music field in a series of retrospective concerts celebrating the Naumburg Foundation’s Eightieth Anniversary, performed by previous winners of the Naumburg Award.

Program for October 26: Mozart "Dissonant" Quartet, K 465, Debussy Quartet in G minor Op.10; and Brahms Quartet in A minor Op. 51 No.2.

www.americanstringquartet.com

Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 3:00 PM

Claremont Piano Trio

Emily Bruskin, violin; Julia Bruskin, cello; Donna Kwong, piano

The award-winning Claremont Trio, whose playing has been called "positively spellbinding" (Palm Beach Daily News), offers a unique blend of soulful insight into works of the standard repertoire along with an enthusiastic appetite for performing the greatest 20th and 21st century works as well as commissioning new ones. Twin sisters Emily Bruskin and Julia Bruskin formed the Trio with Donna Kwong in 1999 at The Juilliard School. After winning the 2001 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Claremont Trio launched a touring career with an acclaimed New York debut at the 92nd Street Y. The Claremont Trio was the first recipient of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award.

Program for November 16: Haydn Trio in G Major "Gypsy Rondo;" Paul Schoenfield Cafe Music (1986); and Dvorak Trio in F minor, Op. 65.

www.claremonttrio.com

Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 3:00 PM
(Snow date: Saturday, January 17 at 3:00)

Triton Horn Trio

Ani Kavafian, violin; William Purvis, horn; Mihae Lee, piano

Three esteemed soloists join forces to present masterpieces from the horn repertoire. Prize-winners since their teen-age days, these three kindred spirits have united their distinguished and seasoned performing careers in this ensemble which grew out of a performance of the Brahms Horn Trio. Formed in 2004, the Triton Trio performs innovative programs of various combinations of solos and duos along with the trios of Brahms, Harbison, Lansky, Ligeti and others. Ms. Kavafian is an artist member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Mr. Purvis is a frequent guest of that ensemble and a member of the New York Woodwind Quintet; and Ms. Lee is an artist member of the Boston Chamber Music Society.

Program for January 4: All-Brahms, concluding with the incomparable Horn Trio Op. 40.

www.bridgerecords.com

Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 3:00 PM

Boston University Opera Institute

Featuring the glorious voices of rising stars of the opera world, the Opera Institute's annual visit has become a tradition at Concerts at the Point. William Lumpkin, Music Director/Conductor of the Opera Institute and conductor at Boston Lyric Opera as well as Opera Theater of St. Louis, accompanies the singers. Under the guidance of Sharon Daniels, Director of Opera Programs, and Phyllis Curtin, Artistic Advisor, along with a professional faculty which includes many guest artists, the Boston University Opera Institute sponsors and trains outstanding young professional singers in the crucial years between university and career.

www.bu.edu/cfa/music