CRC 25-26 Brochure by Thomas Laskowski

DEAR FRIENDS

I’m so pleased to share CRC’s 2025–2026 Season with you! We have another wonderful array of international artists coming to the Shaker Tannery and Memorial Chapel to perform thrilling repertoire for you!

We believe that there is no better way to inspire and uplift you than to offer world-class artists playing music to which they are devoted. Experiencing a CRC performance transports you to a higher plane where the music envelops you and warms the soul. There’s really nothing like it.

Highlights of the summer season include the debut of celebrated guitarist David Leisner; Thomas Meglioranza in a special program of early 20th-century popular and cabaret songs; and a matinee performance to close the season featuring Dvořák’s delightful Piano Quintet with Evren Ozel and the Terra Quartet.

Our Union Series features mainstays such as pianists Emanuel Ax, Paul Lewis, and Llŷr Williams; and the Belcea, Brentano, and Ébène string quartets. We also present the debuts of five artists as wide-ranging as the French accordionist Théo Ould in a tango program to the renowned British baritone Roderick Williams singing Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin.

We can’t continue to enhance your life through these remarkable concerts without your help. Ticket sales comprise less than one-third of our annual income, and we must raise over $380,000 each year to meet our budget. Please consider supporting the series you cherish.

I look forward to being with you!

DEREK DELANEY

Artistic Director

David Leisner, guitar

Saturday, June 7, 7:30–8:30pm

Tannery Pond, The Darrow School

We kick off our summer season at the Tannery featuring one of America’s top guitarists for over 30 years. Leisner’s enchanting and inspiring playing will be on display in works from Bach to his own composition.

Bach: Sarabande (BWV 997) and Allemande (BWV 996)

Duarte: English Suite, Op. 31

Schubert: Liebesbotschaft, Ständchen, Aufenthalt

Leisner: Freedom Fantasy No. 2

Winslow: Variations on a Tune of Stephen Foster

Mertz: Hungarian Fantasy

Zoltán Fejérvári, piano Saturday, June 28, 7:30pm

Tannery Pond, The Darrow School

A protégé of András Schiff, this Hungarian pianist’s poetic musicianship has led to multiple appearances on our Schenectady series. He plays Czech and German masterworks for his only North American recital appearance in 2025.

Dvořák: 8 Humoresques, Op. 101 Janáček: On an Overgrown Path, Book II Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15 Brahms: C-major Sonata, Op. 1

Santiago Cañón-Valencia,

cello

Saturday, July 12, 7:30pm

Tannery Pond, The Darrow School

Making his debut, this Colombian cellist was an audience favorite at the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition and has since performed recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall and throughout the world. His solo program features Bach’s beloved 5th Suite and Chaconne along with Latin works.

Bach: Fifth Suite, BWV 1011

Ponce de León: La Ruta de la Mariposa

Bach: D-minor Chaconne, BWV 1004

Golijov: Omaramor

Valencia: Ascenso Hacia lo profundo

Thomas Meglioranza, baritone

Reiko Uchida, piano

Saturday, August 23, 7:30–8:30pm

Tannery Pond, The Darrow School

We welcome back this charming singer after his beguiling Ravel performance at the Tannery in 2023. The baritone offers a special hour-long program highlighting popular and cabaret songs of the early 20th century.

Songs of WWI: From Tin Pan Alley to Cabaret

Terra Quartet

Evren Ozel, piano

Saturday, September 6, 2pm

Tannery Pond, The Darrow School

We close the summer with a special matinee performance highlighting Dvořák’s Bohemian masterwork that has delighted audiences for over a century. The concert features a special collaboration of the Terras and Ozel, who have separately received rousing ovations at the Tannery.

Haydn: D-major Quartet, Op. 71, No. 2

Bartók: Third Quartet

Dvořák: A-major Piano Quintet, Op. 81

Septura

Sunday, October 19, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

We welcome back the stellar brass ensemble of principal players from London’s top orchestras to open our Schenectady season with a program highlighting the profound connection between French Impressionism and George Gershwin.

Ravel: Mother Goose Suite

Debussy: Préludes SELECTIONS

Gershwin: Three Piano Preludes

Gershwin: Songbook SELECTIONS

Gershwin: An American in Paris

Belcea Quartet Sunday, October 26, 3pm Memorial Chapel, Union College

This uplifting ensemble makes regular series appearances because they are simply one of the leading quartets in the world. The Belceas pair Mozart’s revolutionary work with a new work written expressly for them, followed by Beethoven’s final contribution to the genre. Mozart: Dissonance Quartet, K. 465 Brett Dean: New Work

Beethoven: F-major Quartet, Op. 135

Paul Lewis, piano

Sunday, November 9, 3pm Memorial Chapel, Union College

This esteemed British artist and Tanglewood favorite returns to our stage after his triumphant Schubert cycle. A specialist of the German canon, Lewis plays such masterworks framing a work written for him by Austrian composer Thomas Larcher.

Beethoven: C-minor Sonata, Op. 10, No.1

Larcher: Sonata

Brahms: Three Intermezzi, Op. 117

Beethoven: C-minor Sonata, Op. 111

Sponsored by Ann Berlstein and Jerry Bernstein

Llŷr Williams, piano

Sunday, November 23, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

This Welsh pianist may not be a household name in America, but his semi-annual performances on the series are highly-anticipated by pianophiles and music lovers alike. Williams brings his virtuosic technique and soulful phrasing in a wide-ranging program.

Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue

Schumann: F-minor Sonata, Op. 14

Rachmaninoff: Corelli Variations, Op. 42

Shostakovich: Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 SELECTIONS

WHERE TO GIVE

ANNUAL FUND

Our operating expenses total $580,000, and ticket income comprises only one-third of our annual income. CRC must raise over $380,000 this year to balance its budget. With artist and related costs rising and Union’s newly-imposed hall rental charges, maintaining and developing the series has become increasingly challenging. We need all our music-loving friends to lend their support to help us meet our annual goals. For instance, if every audience member gave only $100 per year, we’d exceed these goals. There are many ways in which to give (you can even set up a recurring gift), so if you love the concerts, please help us.

ENDOWED GIFTS

While CRC’s reserve funds provide some assistance should annual needs not be met, there is still much work to do to ensure the series. We need to continue to build this reserve to eventually create an endowment (an ample restricted fund that generates annual interest income to help fund the series).

Endowed gifts help strengthen the series in the long term and can pass along your love of this music for years to come. Multi-year pledges of support also help ensure future performances.

ESTATE GIFTS

A bequest intention in your estate planning can be transformational for the series. An estate gift leaves an enduring legacy of your appreciation for the performances and helps us enormously in sharing this incredible music with generations of people to come.

Please consider joining other music-loving friends and become a member of our Emerson Legacy Society by including CRC in your estate planning.

HOW TO GIVE

ENDOWED GIFT—$150,000

& UP

An enduring gift that can be made in whole, in installments, or in combination with your estate planning to support a concert in your name (or a loved one) for many years.

CONCERT

SPONSORSHIP—$10,000-$15,000

A gift to support one of our season performances by an emerging or eminent artist (respectively).

YOUNG ARTIST RESIDENCY SPONSORSHIP—$5,000

A gift to support a 3-day residency of a talented young artist featuring a free concert, outreach programs, and a masterclass.

MEMORIAL

CHAPEL RENTAL FUND—$1,000 & UP [NEW]

A gift that helps support our Union College annual rental costs of over $25,000.

STUDENT

TICKET FUND—$500 & UP

A gift to help subsidize hundreds of free tickets for youth and students to attend the concerts.

RECURRING GIFT [NEW]

A gift of your choosing to repeat annually, biannually, quartetly, or monthly.

GENERAL SUPPORT

Every gift matters! Please consider lending your support in any way you can.

Gift options include:

l Cash

l Appreciated Securities

l Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA

l Real Estate & other property

l Estate Gifts to our Emerson Legacy Society

Mark Steinberg, violin Jonathan Biss, piano

Sunday, December 14, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

We bring together two series favorites, Biss and Steinberg (the first violinist of the Brentano Quartet), for a special afternoon of sonatas by Mozart. These exceptional musicians will immerse themselves in the charm, wit, and beauty of the composer’s music.

Mozart Violin Sonatas

F-major Sonata, K. 377

B-flat-major Sonata, K. 378

G-major Sonata, K. 301

Emanuel Ax, piano

Sunday, January 4, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

The legendary pianist makes his highly-anticipated return in recital after a four-year hiatus. Ax’s endearing and compelling playing belies the warmth of his engaging personality, making his performances as comforting as a warm fire in winter.

Schubert: A-minor Sonata, D. 537

Beethoven: Work TBD

Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61

Chopin: F-sharp-major Barcarolle, Op. 60

Chopin: Nocturne TBD

Chopin: B-flat-minor Scherzo, Op. 31

Brentano Quartet

Sunday, January 18, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

One of our favorite ensembles and Yale’s quartet-in-residence returns for a special extended program traversing one of Haydn’s seminal sets of quartets. The Brentano’s signature elegance and refined musicianship will illuminate the composer’s genius in the six masterworks.

Complete Haydn Op. 33 Quartets

TWO INTERMISSIONS

Valo Quartet

Sunday, February 1, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

Making their debut, this ensemble features some of the leading string players in Europe and has toured throughout the UK and Belgium. Last summer, the quartet performed two concerts at the prestigious Lammermuir Festival in Scotland with one of their champions, Jeremy Denk.

Webern: Fünf sätze

Debussy: Quartet, Op. 10

Leinonen: Soisin

Brahms: C-minor Quartet, Op. 51, No. 1

The Walter W. Godwin Concert

Marmen Quartet

Sunday, February 15, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

Winners of the Bordeaux and Banff International Competitions, this London-based quartet made a very memorable 2022 debut at the Tannery. Now making their Schenectady debut, the Marmens will be a mainstay here for years to come.

Haydn: B-flat-major Quartet, Op. 76, No. 4, Sunrise

Bartók: Second Quartet

Beethoven: F-major Quartet, Op. 135

Sterling Elliott, cello Janice Carissa, piano

Sunday, February 22, 3pm Memorial Chapel, Union College

A former Horizons Young Artist, Elliott has soloed with the Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic, among other leading orchestras. A dynamic and engaging musician, his program features works by 20th-century masters.

Britten: Sonata William Grant Still: Suite Bridge: Sonata Barber: Sonata

The Christine Kirwin Krackeler Concert

Alexandra Dovgan, piano Sunday, March 22, 3pm Memorial Chapel, Union College

This 18-year-old Russian virtuoso is a protégé of Grigory Sokolov and has already appeared in recital at all the major European halls. Playing with poetry and panache well beyond her years, she appears en route to her Carnegie Hall debut.

Chopin: F-sharp-major Barcarolle, Op. 60

Chopin: B-minor Sonata, Op. 58

Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue

Prokofiev: Sonata No. 2, Op. 14

Ébène Quartet

Sunday, April 12, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

This Parisian quartet is among one of the best in the world and is always a “circle-the-date” concert on the series. The Ébène shows off its scintillating technique, lush sound, and awe-inspiring togetherness in masterworks of the literature.

Mozart: D-minor Quartet, K. 421

Debussy: Quartet, Op. 10

Brahms: A-minor Quartet, Op. 51, No. 2

Sponsored by Jill Taylor and Paul Masters

Roderick Williams, baritone Myra Huang, piano

Sunday, April 26, 3pm

Memorial Chapel, Union College

The revered British singer has had a long, respected career as an art song specialist, but it was his performance at King Charles III’s coronation that brought him worldwide fame. Closing our season, he performs Schubert’s seminal song cycle about love and despair.

Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795

Nathan Amaral, violin

Thursday, March 12, 7:30pm

Mont Pleasant Middle School

YOUNGHORIZONS ARTIST

This young Brazilian violinist has already performed as soloist with the Boston Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra and won first prize at the 2024 Sphinx Competition. We feature our Horizons Young Artist in a free concert of solo violin works for all to enjoy.

Program to include works by Bach, Ysaÿe, and Brazilian composers

BECOME A MEMBER

CRC has created a new program to enhance your concert experience and to offer significant discounts and other benefits. Our Membership program strengthens the CRC family by deepening your relationship with the series, your music-loving friends, and the music you love.

A Membership includes more benefits and is an even better deal than Subscriptions in past seasons. Choose a membership that suits your interests and schedule, and you receive tickets with financial and other benefits. The higher the level of membership, the more benefits you enjoy.

PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP—$500 [SAVE $270]

l One ticket to all 19 concerts (including Ax).

l An annual post-concert reception with musicians.

l Access to CRC Radio (an online resource for monthly archival recordings).

l Access to private video talks with Derek before each concert.

l Two free tickets to any concert for your friends.

GOLD MEMBERSHIP—$400 [SAVE $120]

l One ticket to 13 Union College concerts.

l An annual post-concert reception with musicians.

l Access to CRC Radio (an online resource for monthly archival recordings).

l Access to private video talks with Derek before each concert.

l Two free tickets to any concert for your friends.

SILVER MEMBERSHIP—$250 [SAVE $30]

l One ticket to 7 concerts of your choosing.

l Access to private video talks with Derek before each concert.

l Two free tickets to any concert for your friends.

BRONZE MEMBERSHIP—$190 [SAVE $10]

l One ticket to 5 concerts of your choosing.

l Two free tickets to any concert for your friends.

TICKET INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP DEADLINE

Memberships must be purchased by 8.1.2025.

TICKETS

Single tickets start at $40, and there is a $2 service fee per order. Memberships and single tickets can be purchased with this brochure, online, or by phone at 518.941.4331.

All concerts are general admission—no reserved seating. Each venue opens to the public 45 minutes prior to the concert. All ticket sales are final.

All kids and college students may attend each concert for free. Please show a valid student ID at the box office to receive your complimentary ticket. A number of tickets are set aside each concert—no need to reserve in advance.

ONLINE ACCOUNT

If you order your tickets though our website and register for an account, you can access your ticket information, donate your tickets, and much more. It’s never been easier to manage your ticket needs without having to contact our office. To create an account, register your email on the ‘Account’ page on our website, or select ‘Create an account‘ when placing your order online. You can then log on at any time to your account!

VENUES

UNION COLLEGE

807 Union Street

Schenectady, NY 12308

MONT PLEASANT M.S.

1121 Forest Road

Schenectady, NY 12303

DARROW SCHOOL

110 Darrow Road

New Lebanon, NY 12125

CALENDAR

Cut and save calendar for future reference.

Union College

Darrow School

Mont Pleasant

PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP (All 19 concerts incl. Ax) _____ tickets x $500 = $__________ GOLD MEMBERSHIP (13 concerts at Union College**) _____ tickets x $400 = $__________ SILVER MEMBERSHIP (7 concerts—select on right panel**) _____

BRONZE MEMBERSHIP (5 concerts—select on right panel**) _____

** Emanuel Ax concert included only with Platinum Membership

Thomas C. Murphy, president

Jill Taylor, vice-president

Ellen-Deane Cummins, treasurer

Brian Quiara, secretary

Jerry Bernstein

Caroline Giassi

David Gittelman

David Shaffer

Margery G. Whiteman

DIRECTOR EMERITA

Sherley Hannay

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Derek Delaney