Sunday afternoon we enjoyed the 10th performance by the Mandelring Quartett since their first for Friends in 1997. They are the best-established of what has been a generational wave of fine chamber music groups coming from Germany, with several others also appearing in Friends concerts. Sebastian Schmidt, first violin, Nanette Schmidt, second violin, Andreas Willwohl, … Continue reading Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Ullmann – recapping an exciting afternoon with the Mandelring Quartett »

Friends of Chamber Music bring the world’s best chamber music to Vancouver. Now we are in March 2026, after packing February with great music-making. Please join us for an exciting second half of March, with more spectacular music-making to savour from the Mandelring Quartet, Trio Bohémo, and the Dover Quartet. Turning back to February, on … Continue reading Friends’ February 2026 – 3 concerts in the shortest month, with 3 more to come in March »

The Jasper String Quartet answered our call for help. We had an unexpected cancellation by a group that had played for us before. We had a concert date set at the Vancouver Playhouse but no artists. And we always want to ensure that we continue to present the world’s best chamber music for our audience. … Continue reading Jasper String Quartet »

The Aris Quartett’s delightful concert launched Friends of Chamber Music’s 78th season on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The Aris Quartett from Germany, with guest first violinist Stephen Waarts from the Netherlands, played their first Vancouver concert, a delight-filled performance, to launch the Friends of Chamber Music’s 78th season. While this was the first Vancouver concert … Continue reading Aris Quartet »

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Isidore String Quartet performance at the Vancouver Playhouse brought the 2024-2025 Friends of Chamber Music season to a triumphant close. We enjoyed a wonderful evening that gave us a chance to face the future of our series by presenting this fabulous young ensemble to our delighted audience of friends, … Continue reading Isidore Quartet »

We were delighted to welcome the acclaimed Pacifica Quartet for their third concert for Friends on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. And the programme for this concert was no April Fools joke, but rather a fascinating range of great music from 1928, 1936, and the final work from 1944. A meaty programme suits this group, violinists … Continue reading Pacifica Quartet »

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the wonderful Pavel Haas Quartet played their sixth concert for Friends since their first in 2011. And like their earlier concerts, this one was remarkable – and for a reason not immediately obvious to audience members. Five years ago, on March 8, 2020, the Pavel Haas Quartet shared the stage … Continue reading Pavel Haas Quartet »

On Sunday, March 2, 2025, during a warm, spring-like afternoon, the acclaimed young Berlin-based Notos Quartett played a wonderful concert for Friends at the Vancouver Playhouse. This piano quartet is comprised of violinist Sindri Lederer, violist Andrea Burger, cellist Benjamin Lai, and pianist Antonia Köster. All of us present enjoyed a gorgeously musical range of … Continue reading Notos Quartet »

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the Han Finckel Setzer Trio played their 11th concert in 14 years for Friends. Clearly, they have become our favourite visiting piano trio since 2011. The musicians in the Trio have been friends for many years, and they are long-time friends of ours, too. Pianist Wu Han and cellist David … Continue reading Han Finckel Setzer Trio »

On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm the Friends welcomed the Schumann Quartet to our concert platform at the Vancouver Playhouse for the first time. While they have played in Vancouver before, this was the first time we have heard them play. This young German string quartet consists of three brothers, violinists Erik and … Continue reading Schumann Quartet »