Each season we bring the world’s best chamber music to Vancouver. Friends can save you a trip to New York, London, or Vienna to hear these artists.
During every Friends concert, we present internationally acclaimed musicians who reveal the intimate and profound insights of great composers written into the scores of this most personal form of music. They act as living conduits in direct communication between the composers and us, their live audience. No recordings can replace this experience!
Join us during our sensational 78th season, as we offer live concerts by eight string quartets, a piano trio, and a special duo of cello and piano. Given their wide-ranging repertoire, these groups offer a delightful range of tonal colours, sure to satisfy both our long-standing supporters and our new audience members.
Season highlights include our final visit from cellist András Fejér, last original member of the internationally celebrated Takács Quartet (Hungary-USA). For the group’s 30th Vancouver concert since their first in 1982, on February 24, 2026, they will play three of Beethoven’s miraculous string quartets, Opus 18 No. 2, Opus 74 “the Harp”, and Opus 131. The Takács Quartet recorded all 16 Beethoven quartets in the early 2000s. “If you only ever wanted to own one [recorded] version of the Beethoven string quartets, this really would be the one to have. …Beethoven’s quartets really are among the most outstanding masterpieces the Western world ever produced.”
In addition, we are pleased to welcome back audience favourites, Quatuor Modigliani (France), Cuarteto Casals (Spain), the Mandelring Quartet (Germany), and the Dover Quartet (USA). And new to us this season are the Aris Quartett (Germany), the Jasper String Quartet (USA), Trio Bohemo (Czechia), and the Calder Quartet (USA).
Even with eight string quartets, the mix of music and sonic styles heard in our concerts over the series will continue to delight and amaze our audience. We are excited to present a range of music from the Eighteenth Century to the present day, composed by: Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, Grażyna Bacewicz, Felix Mendelssohn, Claude Debussy, Gabriela Lena Frank, Gyorgy Kurtag, Johannes Brahms, Elisenda Fábregas, Viktor Ullmann, Antonín Rejcha, and Paul Schoenfield.
Join us for concerts that will uplift one’s soul when we bring the world’s best chamber music to Vancouver.
Sustaining Donations
Donations are essential to our survival because ticket sales only cover a portion of our costs. The difference is made up by contributions from generous supporters. Yearly, monthly, and one-time charitable donations can be made by clicking the Canada Helps button below. Please contact us if you wish to discuss other donations, including legacy gifts. Tax receipts will be issued for the value of donations received.
