We are very excited to share our upcoming season of stellar concerts with you. Friends of Chamber Music brings you the world’s best chamber music to experience during our 78th season.
Our 2025/2026 season is dedicated to the memory of the late Eric Wilson, a dedicated member of the Friends’ volunteer board of directors for 63 years. In his final months, Eric booked the artists for this coming season. He chose ten internationally renowned ensembles, continuing our 77-year-young tradition of bringing the world’s best chamber music to Vancouver. You won’t find anything better at London’s Wigmore Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, or New York’s Lincoln Center.
1. Aris Quartett (Germany) – Tues 14 Oct 2025, 7:30 pm
Expressive, dynamic, spectacular – the Aris Quartett is visiting the Playhouse for the first time. Founded in Frankfurt in 2009 (and mentored by Gunter Pichler, part of the renowned Alban Berg Quartet, a group that last played for us in 1982), this group has been at home on international stages for more than a decade. With its distinctive sound, the Aris Quartett has become known as one of the world’s top-ranked chamber music ensembles.
They will play Felix Mendelssohn’s and Gyorgy Ligeti’s (very different) first quartets, as well as Ludwig van Beethoven’s exciting first “Middle Period” quartet, Opus 59 No. 1 “Razumovsky”, always an audience favourite.
2. Esmé Quartet (South Korea, Belgium/USA) – Tues 28 Oct 2025, 7:30 pm
Praised for their warm sound and powerful stage presence, the Esmé Quartet are back again after their popular first Vancouver appearance in 2022. Formed in Cologne in 2016 by four Korean friends who shared passions in music, the arts, and life, they return this time with a Belgian-American violist who has joined the group, and still with the warmth and vigour they demonstrated for us at their first concert.
Their programme will feature Ravel’s ever-popular String Quartet in F Major, Dutilleux’s “Ainsi la nuit” (string quartet version), and Schubert’s melodious “Rosamunde” quartet, D804.
3. Quatuor Modigliani (France) – Tues 11 Nov 2025, 7:30 pm
The sonically sparkling Quatuor Modigliani makes a welcome return to Vancouver on the evening of Remembrance Day. Founded in 2003, this wonderful French ensemble is recognised by audiences and music critics alike as one of today’s most sought-after string quartets. They feature regularly on the world’s most prestigious concert platforms, and this is your opportunity to hear them in Vancouver for their second Friends concert.
The Modigliani will start with the last complete quartet by the ‘father’ of the string quartet, Joseph Haydn, with his Opus 77 No. 2 “Lobkowitz”, then jump to modern times for Hungarian composer Gyorgy Kurtag’s “Microludes”, Opus 13, and finish with Brahms’ Romantic quartet, Opus 51 No. 2.
4. Cuarteto Casals (Spain) – Sun 01 Feb 2026, 3:00 pm
The fabulous Cuarteto Casals from Spain played for us in 2023, joined by local young pianist, and 2024 Leeds Piano Competition-winner, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko in Brahms’ piano quintet, Opus 34. The Casals was founded in 1997 at the Escuela Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain, and the group has established its reputation playing both classic repertoire and new music. Their well-deserved positive reputation leads to regular invitations to select concert halls around the world, and we hope you will join us to welcome them back.
This Spanish ensemble will start with the 3rd string quartet by Spanish Basque composer Arriaga, known as “the Spanish Mozart” (and who died aged 20 in 1826), followed by the Canadian premiere of Spanish-American composer and pianist Elisenda Fábregas’ “Fiery earth” (2024), before finishing with Schubert’s magnificent final quartet, D887.
5. Wu Han and David Finckel (USA) – Sun 15 Feb 2026, 3:00 pm
We are thrilled to welcome back cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han. They have been honoured as Musical America’s Musicians of the Year, stand among today’s most distinguished figures in classical music, encompassing world-class performances, acclaimed recordings, and visionary artistic direction (especially The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Music@Menlo). They have captivated audiences globally, from the stages of New York to premier venues across North America, Europe, and Asia. Their repertoire spans the classical canon for cello and piano but also includes contemporary and commissioned works. As artistic directors for prominent arts organizations, they collaboratively curate more than 300 concerts each year.
Their programme comprises five wonderful pieces: J.S. Bach’s Sonata in D major for Viola da Gamba and Keyboard BWV 1028 (1740), R. Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces, Op. 73 (1849), Saint-Saens’ Sonata No. 1 in c minor, Op. 32 (1873), Jalbert’s Ephemeral Objects (commission, 2020) and Chopin’s Sonata in g minor, Op. 65 (1847).
6. Takács Quartet (Hungary/USA) – Tues 24 Feb 2026, 7:30 pm
Marking its 50th anniversary this season, and still featuring one original member, cellist András Fejér, the Takács Quartet, our perennial favourites in concert, return to Vancouver with a special all-Beethoven programme. The group will play three of the genius composer’s cycle of 16 string quartets, one each from his “Early”, “Middle”, and “Late Period”: Opus 18 No. 2, Opus 74 “Harp”, and Opus 131.
Tagged as one of the 10 greatest string quartets of the past 100 years by BBC Music Magazine, this astoundingly wonderful group brings to life the classic Hungarian tradition of string playing, rhythmically dynamic and full toned. “Classical music doesn’t get much more life-enhancing than this.” (The Guardian) “Rich contrasts: a Wigmore Hall evening of dazzling versatility…” (Seen and Heard International).
7. Mandelring Quartett (Germany) – Sun 15 Mar 2026, 3:00 pm
The Mandelring Quartett, consisting of the three Schmidt siblings and a friend, first played for us in Vancouver in 1997. With each visit they have made such an impression on our audience that we continue to invite them back, time after time. Founded in 1983, the Mandelring Quartett has carved out a celebrated career in chamber music, receiving many performing and recording honours. The group regularly tours Europe, as well as North and South America and Asia. In 2023, for the 4th time they were invited to play on Stradivari instruments from the collection of the Royal Palace, Madrid. And even when playing their usual complement of instruments, the Mandelring Quartett is one of the world’s best string quartets.
8. Trio Boheme (Czechia) – Tues, 24 Mar 2026, 7:30 pm
The multi-prize-winning Trio Bohémo is a young Czech piano trio that came together in 2019. This group has gone from success to success all over Europe when playing in music competitions and at regular concerts. As well, they have received very positive reviews (“*****” BBC Music Magazine, etc.) for their debut CD of music by Schubert and Smetana. Now we have a chance to hear them in Vancouver during their first North American tour.
Their concert will start with Czech-born and Paris resident composer Anton Reicha’s Piano Trio in E flat Major, Op. 101 No. 1 (1824), followed by American composer and pianist Paul Schoenfield’s “Café Music” (arranged for piano trio); and finish with Smetana’s elegiac and passionate masterpiece, his Piano Trio, Opus 15.
9. Dover Quartet (USA) – Tues 31 Mar 2026, 7:30 pm
Noted as one of the 10 greatest string quartets of the last 100 years by BBC Music Magazine, the 2-time Grammy Award-nominated Dover Quartet is one of the world’s most in-demand chamber ensembles. The group swept all the prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition. They have received an Avery Fisher Career Grant, Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award, and Lincoln Center’s Hunt Family Award. This year all four members took other jobs, including first violinist Joel Link becoming concertmaster of the prestigious Cleveland Orchestra. And even with those commitments, they will continue playing concerts as a quartet every season, including this one in Vancouver.
10. Calder Quartet (USA) – Tues 28 Apr 2026, 7:30 pm
Hailed as “superb” and “imaginative, skillful creators” by the New York Times, the Calder Quartet captivates audiences while exploring a broad spectrum of repertoire, always striving to fulfill the composer’s vision in their performances. Inspired by the innovative American artist Alexander Calder, the group often focuses on contemporary music, commissioning and premiering new works. We can listen in on the musicians’ intimate exploration in concert, demonstrating their approach to each composer’s perspective.
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Subscribing to all 10 concerts offers the best value, or you can choose a cluster of 4 concerts at a lesser discount, or purchase single concert tickets for maximum flexibility. Whatever you choose, get ready for spine-tingling beauty and gorgeous-toned live music-making.
Subscriptions and single tickets are available by clicking the subscription or individual concert links at the Friends website:
https://friendsofchambermusic.ca/
Artists and repertoire are subject to change without notice.
Friends of Chamber Music is a wholly volunteer-operated member-based organisation. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our friends in supporting our efforts through ticket sales, donations and legacies.
