Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival’s 40th Summer Season

Miró Quartet by Naoya Ikegami
Miró Quartet by Naoya Ikegami cover

Featuring chamber music’s most celebrated repertoire in 12 concerts throughout Cape Cod

Miró Quartet
(L to R) Daniel Ching, William Fedkenheuer, Joshua Gindele, John Largess
Image by Naoya Ikegami

McGRATHPR.com – Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival (CCCMF) announces the celebration of 40 years as Cape Cod’s premiere presenter of summer chamber music with its 2019 summer season, presenting 12 compelling concerts from August 1 through 23, 7:30 pm, at locations throughout the region.  The Festival is programmed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Jon Nakamatsu and Jon Manasse, and Executive Director Elaine Lipton. 

“The Festival opened on July 30, 1980 with four concerts, five artists and three venues.  Just imagine founder Samuel Sanders’s delight if he could see the Festival’s longevity and growth over the years,” says Artistic Director Jon Nakamatsu. 

CCCMF’s four-decade celebration boasts a roster of music’s virtuosos, highlighted with a return appearance by prominent and beloved Borromeo String Quartet, performing theNorth American premiere of “Icarus” for string quartet and clarinet by composer Elena Ruehr.  Renowned Emerson String Quartet also returns performing Barber’s haunting “Adagio for Strings.”  Hermitage Piano Trio makes its Festival debut, performing a program of exquisite Romantic music.  Musicians from New York’s radiant Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra perform with legendary pianists and artistic directors past and present – Brian Zeger and Jon Nakamatsu.  A long-anticipated highlight is a concert program celebrating the 100th birthday of Composer/Conductor Leonard Bernstein, with a special guest appearance by his daughter Jamie.  Musical works by Bernstein and Aaron Copland are featured in the performance, including “Appalachian Spring” in its original scoring for 13 instruments.  The Festival’s breathtaking, weeklong three concert residency showcases the award-winning Miró Quartet, performing concerts in Cotuit, Dennis and Wellfleet.  The ensemble performs together with Manasse and Nakamatsu in its finale, guaranteed to captivate, inspire and thrill.

Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival was founded in 1979 by the late Samuel Sanders, a gifted pianist and accompanist to Itzhak Perlman for thirty years. Sanders’ goal was to establish a continuous presence of first-rate chamber music concerts on Cape Cod.  As the Festival celebrates four decades, it excels under the leadership of its Artistic Directors, the team of Jon Manasse (clarinetist) and Jon Nakamatsu (pianist), both acclaimed musicians who represent the top ranks of American chamber music, as a duo and as individual artists. “The Jons”, as they are known, work closely with Executive Director Elaine Lipton, along with the help of an active Board and more than 60 local volunteers, to bring a stellar mosaic of talent to the Cape.  In addition to its annual summer season of 12 concerts, community and school outreach programs and an annual benefit in New York, it partners with local cultural organizations for educational programs and fundraising. 

Jupiter String Quartet at Studio Theatre, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. from left: Nelson Lee, Meg Freivogel, Daniel McDonough and Liz Freivogel
Image by L. Brian Stauffer

The Festival continues Sam Sanders’ tradition of showcasing emerging talent by presenting accomplished musicians early in their careers.  Over the years this has included such famed musicians as Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, the Parker Quartet and Jupiter Quartet, among others.  Programming spans the 17th to 21st centuries, with periodic commissions from such composers as John Corigliano, William Bolcom and Osvaldo Golijov. The Festival owns several quality grand pianos housed at its Cotuit, Chatham and Wellfleet venues, utilized year-round by community members and other arts organizations.

Artistic Directors Jon Manasse and Jon Nakamatsu, image by Arts Management Group

CCCMF presents the finest classical and contemporary music by both world-class ensembles and exceptional young, emerging artists to Cape Cod audiences, developing new and younger audiences for chamber music.  It commissions new chamber works whenever possible; and provides educational activities and programs that encourage, broaden and deepen the appreciation of the chamber music art form.  The Festival has become synonymous with great chamber music at the height of tourist season on the Cape. Outreach programs have served students in the Barnstable, Chatham and Nauset school districts, and at the May Center in Chatham, as well as the residents of Thirwood Place in Yarmouth and the Riverview School in Sandwich.


Concerts are held in six communities, ensuring maximum accessibility to Cape Cod audiences, at these venues:

Wellfleet:  First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street

Orleans:  Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road

Chatham:  First Congregational Church: 650 Main Street (at the Rotary)

Dennis:  Dennis Union Church: 713 Main Street (Route 6A)

Cotuit:  Cotuit Center for the Arts: 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28) 

Falmouth:  Falmouth Academy’s Simon Center for the Arts, 7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth

Ticket orders received on or before June 30: $36 general admission; $15 for college students with ID); FREE for attendees 18 and under. General admission to three or more concerts: $34 per ticket. Emerson String Quartet concert: $50 (whether individually purchased or as part of the three-concert package).

Ticket orders received on or after July 1: $40 general admission; $15 for college students (with ID); FREE for attendees 18 and under. General admission to three or more concerts: $38 per ticket. Emerson String Quartet concert: $55 (whether individually purchased or as part of the three-concert package).

Festival seating is limited to venue capacity, advance purchase is recommended.  Tickets purchased online can be printed at home or picked up at will call at the performances.  Tickets may also be purchased by calling or visiting the box office at 508-247-9400 or at 3 Main Street, Unit 6, North Eastham.  Box office hours are 10 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.  Phone orders are available until 12 noon on the day of each concert.

For more information about Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival’s 2016 season, performers, mission and venues, visit capecodchambermusic.org, or follow Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

2019 Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival Schedule:

Purely Romantic

Thursday, August 1, 7:30 pm, Falmouth Academy’s Simon Center for the Arts, 7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth

Hermitage Piano Trio

Program:          Albayev:  One Movement Trio in E-flat Major for Piano, Violin and Cello

Rachmaninoff:  Trio “elagiaques” No. 1 in G Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello

Parker:  Suite in A Major for Piano, Violin and Cello, Opus 35

Dvorak:  Trio No. 3 in F Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello, Opus 65

Purely Romantic

Friday, August 2, 7:30 pm, First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street, Wellfleet

Hermitage Piano Trio

Program:          Albayev:  One Movement Trio in E-flat Major for Piano, Violin and Cello

Rachmaninoff:  Trio “elagiaques” No. 1 in G Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello

Parker:  Suite in A Major for Piano, Violin and Cello, Opus 35

Dvorak:  Trio No. 3 in F Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello, Opus 65

Jupiter and One Jon

Monday, August 5, 7:30 pm, First Congregational Church: 650 Main Street, Chatham

Jupiter String Quartet, Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Program:         Mendelssohn:  String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Opus 13

Shostakovitch:  String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Opus 122

Schumann:  Quintet in E-flat Major for Piano, and Strings, Opus 44

Jupiter and One Jon

Tuesday, August 6, 7:30 pm, Cotuit Center for the Arts: 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Cotuit 

Jupiter String Quartet, Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Program:         Mendelssohn:  String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Opus 13

Shostakovitch:  String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Opus 122

Schumann:  Quintet in E-flat Major for Piano, and Strings, Opus 44

The Emerson and Barber’s Adagio

Emerson String Quartet, courtesy image

Wednesday, August 7, 7:30 pm, First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street, Wellfleet

Emerson String Quartet

Program:         Haydn:  String Quartet in D Major, Opus 71 No. 2; Hob. III: 70

Barber:  String Quartet in B Minor, Opus 11

Dvorak:  String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat Major, Opus 51(B. 92)

Mostly Mostly Mozart … and Brahms

Monday, August 12, 7:30 pm, Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road, Orleans

Laura Frautschi, violin; Krystof Witek, violin; Danielle Farina, viola; Ilya Finkelshteyn, cello; Tanya Dusevic Witek, flute; Brian Zeger, piano

Program:         Mozart:  Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in G Minor for Violin, Viola, and Cello K. 404a

Mozart: Trio in E Major for Piano, Violin, and Cello. K.542

Mozart:  Quartet in D Major for Flute, Violin, Viola and Cello, K 285

Brahms:   Trio in C Major for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Opus 87

Mostly Mostly Mozart…and Schubert

Tuesday, August 13, Cotuit Center for the Arts: 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Cotuit 

Laura Frautschi, violin; Danielle Farina, viola; Ilya Finkelshteyn, cello; Andrew Trombley, bass; Jon Manasse, clarinet; Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Program:         Mozart:  Quartet in E-flat Major for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello K. 493

Mozart:  Trio in E-flat Major for Piano, Clarinet and Viola, K. 498 (Kegelsttatt)

Schubert:  Quintet in A Major, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and Piano, D667 (Trout)

Borromeo, Manasse and Icarus

Wednesday, August 14, 7:30 pm, Dennis Union Church: 713 Main Street (Route 6A), Dennis

Borromeo String Quartet, Jon Manasse, clarinet

Program:         Bach: Four Preludes and Fugues from the Well-tempered Clavier, Book II

Ruehr;  Icarus for string quartet and clarinet (North American Premiere)

Mendelssohn:  String Quartet in D Major, Opus 44 No. 1

Leonard Bernstein at 100

Friday, August 16, 7:30 PM, First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street, Wellfleet

Borromeo String Quartet, Jon Nakamatsu, piano, Jon Manasse, clarinet, Brian Zeger, piano, Jamie Bernstein, Festival Artists

Program:         Bernstein:  Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano

Bernstein:  Two pieces from Sabras

Copland:  Movement for String Quartet

Bernstein:  Sonata for Clarinet and Piano

Copland:  Appalachian Spring

Miró Residency: The Miró Quartet

Tuesday, August 20, Cotuit Center for the Arts: 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Cotuit 

Miró Quartet

Program:          Mozart:  Quartet in B-flat Major for Strings, K. 458

Puts:  Credo for String Quartet

Schumann: Quartet in A Minor for Strings, Opus 41 No. 1

Miró Residency: Romantic Strings

Wednesday, August 21, 7:30 pm, Dennis Union Church: 713 Main Street (Route 6A), Dennis

Miró Quartet, Jon Manasse, clarinet, Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Program:          Wolf:  Seranade in G Major for String Quartet

Glière:  Quartet in A Major for Strings, Opus 2

Franck:  Quartet in D Major for Strings, FWV 9

Bruch:  Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, opus 83

Brahms:  Quartet in C Minor for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello, opus 60

Miró Residency: Riches to Rags

Friday, August 23, 7:30 pm, First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street, Wellfleet

Miró Quartet, Jon Manasse, clarinet, Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Program:          Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes for Clarinet, String Quartet and Piano, Opus 34

Shostakovich:  Quintet in G Major for Piano and Strings, Opus 57

Smith:  Carrot Revolution for String Quartet

Novacek:  Four Rags for Two Jons

About the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival

Hailed by The New York Times as “A Triumph of Quality,” the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival (CCCMF) has been a year-round presenter of chamber music and a major contributor to the cultural life of Cape Cod since its inception in 1979. Founded as the Cape & Islands Chamber Music Festival by the late collaborative pianist Samuel Sanders, the Festival continues his legacy. Now entering its 40th season, CCCMF presents four weeks of intensive chamber music programming in a variety of Cape locations in August. Throughout the rest of the year, CCCMF presents autumn and spring concerts, a community outreach program, and benefit concerts in New York and on Cape Cod. Hoping to ignite the interest of a younger audience, CCCMF welcomes all youth up to age 18 to attend any regular concert free of charge. The Festival is also host to a Composer-in-Residence program, and features composers with Cape Cod connections. CCCMF is a private, non-profit organization supported by a volunteer Board of Directors with financial support from individuals, corporations, and foundations both local and nationwide. For more information about CCCMF’s programs, schedule or tickets, visit capecodchambermusic.org, call 508-247-9400 or follow Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

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