Richard Goode, piano: Sunday, September 25, 2005. 3 p.m. matinée in Finney Chapel. Program: An afternoon of Beethoven and Schubert sonatas. Beethoven:  Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3; Beethoven:  Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Moonlight" Beethoven: Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3; Schubert:   Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. Posth., D. 960

Pianist Richard Goode has been hailed for music making of tremendous emotional power, depth, and expressiveness, and is acknowledged worldwide as one of today's leading interpreters of the music of Beethoven. In regular performances with major orchestras, recitals in the world's music capitals, and on acclaimed Nonesuch recordings, he has won a large and devoted following.

"What one remembers most from Goode's playing is not its beauty--exceptional as it is--but his way of coming to grips with the composer's central thought, so that a work tends to make sense beyond one's previous perception of it. ...The spontaneous formulating process of the creator [becomes] tangible in the concert hall." -- David Blum, The New Yorker

Miró String Quartet: Thursday, October 20, 2005 at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program: Beethoven--Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6; Brent Michael Davids--Tinnitus Quartet; Schubert--Quartet in D Minor, "Death and the Maiden," D. 810

The Miró Quartet has established itself as one of America's brightest and most exciting young chamber groups, captivating audiences around the world, dazzling listeners with its fiery intensity and mature interpretations of all corners of the repertoire, and winning first and grand prizes in the most important international chamber music competitions. Formed at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1995, the quartet features two Conservatory graduates, violinist Daniel Ching and cellist Joshua Gindele.

"Playing of this caliber casts light on the path ahead." -- Anne Midgette, The New York Times

I Musici de Montréal: Sunday, November 6, 2005 at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program: Borodin:--Nocturne; Mussorgsky--Pictures at an Exhibition (for strings); Tchaikovsky--Andante Cantabile; and Tchaikovsky--Serenade.

Formed by cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky in 1983, I Musici de Montréal is a chamber orchestra of 15 musicians that performs a vast repertoire extending from the baroque to the contemporary. Public enthusiasm and critical acclaim for the group's performances underline their precision, cohesion, and virtuosity. I Musici de Montréal's brilliant and distinctive sound confirms its importance on the world's musical stage.

"I Musici de Montréal is a decided virtuoso group." -- South China Morning Post , Hong Kong

The King's Singers: Friday, February 10, 2006 at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program TBA.

Founded at King's College in Cambridge in 1968, the King's Singers is one of the world's most sought-after and acclaimed vocal ensembles. Known for presenting diverse programs encompassing a wide range of repertoire, the group has performed in prestigious venues throughout North America, in the major halls of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadephia, and San Francisco, and at major American music festivals such as Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Wolf Trap. Internationally, the King's Singers uphold a strong presence across most of the globe.

"The singing was technically breathtaking, luxuriously beautiful, and musically intact." -- Ronald Broun, The Washington Post

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin and Anne-Marie McDermott , piano: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program: Schubert: Rondo ('Rondo brillant') in B-Minor, D. 895 (Op. 70;) R. Strauss: Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat Major, Op. 18; Shostakovich: Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 134.

Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg is celebrated worldwide as one of the most original and fearless artists on the concert stage today. Renowned for her electrifying performances, passionate interpretations, and musical depth, she is sought after by today's greatest conductors and orchestras, as well as by fellow artists for collaborations in both classical and other genres. Her sense of humor and naturalness make her an engaging communicator on and off the stage.

"She will make you hang breathlessly on every note." -- Richard Ginell, The Los Angeles Times

The Wayne Shorter Quartet, featuring Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Danilo Perez: Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program : TBA.

Tenor saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter's career spans nearly 35 years and has crossed paths with many of history's indisputable giants of music. His professional life began in 1959 with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra. That year he also became close friends with John Coltrane, and made his breakthrough when he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Lee Morgan, where his unique sound and startling original compositions found a major outlet. In 1964 he joined Miles Davis and his quintet, which included Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. The group would go on to become unique innovators, changing the sound of jazz. "[Wayne Shorter is] one of the most significant composers and individual saxophonists in jazz." •  The New York Times

Kroumata: Thursday, April 6, 2006 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program TBA

Kroumata is one of the world's leading percussion ensembles. The unequalled dynamism and energy of this Swedish group's performances have dazzled audiences all over the world. The unique experience of a Kroumata concert appeals to audiences of all different ages and cultural backgrounds. The six-member ensemble has made tours to more than 35 countries and performed recitals to critical acclaim all over the world. More than 200 works have received their world premieres by Kroumata.

"The precision of the Kroumata players is no less remarkable than their horsepower." -- Gramophone

The Cleveland Orchestra Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director Donald Runnicles, conductor William Preucil, violin: Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 3 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Program: Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201; Paulus; Violin Concerto; Elgar: "Enigma" Variations.

This is the 204th appearance of The Cleveland Orchestra on the Artist Recital Series. Long considered one of America's great orchestras, the ensemble stands today among the world's most revered symphonic ensembles. Guest conductor Donald Runnicles, Music Director of the San Francisco Opera since 1992, is regarded as one of the finest conductors of symphonic and operatic repertoire active today. William Preucil, concertmaster of the orchestra since 1994, performed for seven seasons as the first violinist of the Grammy Award-winning Cleveland Quartet.  

"The orchestra was aglow and alive, sounding as fine as I have ever heard it." --The New Yorker

"[Runnicles] has an exceptional sense of sonority, with every detail immaculately clear yet perfectly fused into the ... sound of the whole." -- Tim Ashley, The Guardian (London)

"[Preucil's] sensitivity to phrasing brought out the poetry in the music." -- Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer