Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han rank among the most esteemed and influential classical musicians in the world today. The talent, energy, imagination, and dedication they bring to their concert performances, go unmatched. Their duo performances have garnered superlatives from the press, public, and presenters alike. In high demand year after year among chamber music audiences worldwide, the duo appears each season at the most prestigious venues and concert series across the United States, Mexico, Canada, the Far East, and Europe. The duo is regularly featured in the country’s leading music festivals. including recitals at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Aspen Music Festival. Beyond the duo’s recital activities, David Finckel also serves as cellist of the Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet. David Finckel and Wu Han have served as Artistic Directors of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2004. They are also the founders and Artistic Directors of MusicMenlo, a chamber music festival and institute in Silicon Valley that has garnered international acclaim since its inception in 2003. They have achieved universal renown for their passionate commitment to nurturing the careers of countless young artists through a wide array of education initiatives. For many years, the duo taught alongside the late Isaac Stern at Carnegie Hall and the Jerusalem Music Center.

Breaking news:

Musical America has just announced its 2012 awards, and for the first time ever a duo partnership has snagged the “grand prize” to be named Musician(s) of the Year:

David and Wu Han now stand alongside past winners of this coveted award, including Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, James Galway, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein (twice), Georg Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich (David’s teacher and idol), James Levine, Itzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta, Rudolf Serkin, Placido Domingo, Arthur Rubinstein, Leopold Stokowski, Yehudi Menuhin, Vladimir Horowitz, Igor Stravinsky, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Riccardo Muti, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis….!!!

Of course those of us just trying to keep up with “America’s Power Couple of Chamber Music” (Wall St. Journal) are not entirely surprised. After all, they have:

But still, it is gratifying indeed that their tireless service on behalf of chamber music has been recognized by this highest honor.

David Rowe Artists is extremely proud to represent David and Wu Han, and we invite your inquiries for 2012/13 and future seasons!

--David Rowe

Program:

Bach
Adagio (from the Toccata in C Major for Organ) for cello and piano
(Transcribed by A. Siloti, cello part revised by Pablo Casals)

Schubert
Sonata in A-minor, “Arpeggione”

Beethoven
Sonata in F-Major, Op. 5, No. 1

Intermission

Brahms
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99

Tickets:

David Finckel, cello - Wu Han, piano - Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 7:30 pm